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When it comes to Weeki Wachee Springs, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is beginning to sound like a frustrated parent whose children are misbehaving in the back seat of the station wagon.
"If I have to stop this car, you're going to be in BIG trouble! And I really mean it this time!"
We think it's time for the water district, commonly known as Swiftmud, to make good on its threat and prove that there are limits to its patience, and consequences for Weeki Wachee's disobedience.
As reported in Wednesday's Times, Weeki Wachee has missed yet another deadline to hook its antiquated sewer system into the county's network. The first time the roadside attraction-city blew its deadline (last year), Swiftmud's governing board considered closing the park because the sewer system was a contamination threat to the Weeki Wachee River. In the spirit of cooperation, Swiftmud generously gave Weeki Wachee officials until Jan. 31 to repair it and connect with the county system.
That second deadline came and went. Now, two months later, Weeki Wachee still hasn't kept its word. Swiftmud, which owns the spring and the land around it, has set a new deadline and issued another stern warning: Make the sewer connection by noon Friday or it will sue its tenant with the intent of closing the 58-year-old attraction.
Tough talk - again. Maybe Weeki Wachee will follow instructions for a change.
But even if Weeki Wachee makes the sewer connection by Friday, Swiftmud still has unfinished business with the attraction.
When the governing board meets Tuesday, its members will consider amending its 30-year lease with Weeki Wachee. That action was prompted after a videotape revealed a backhoe dredging sand near the headspring in February. That task was undertaken without the knowledge of Swiftmud or the state Department of Environmental Protection. The amendment Swiftmud is proposing would allow the water district to cancel its lease with Weeki Wachee immediately if unpermitted dredging occurs again.
But why should Swiftmud forgive the most recent incident? Weeki Wachee clearly violated its lease by dredging without permission. Is that, combined with the attraction's disregard for the risk its sewer system posed to the river, not enough to demonstrate to the governing board a pattern of indifference and inefficiency?
When Weeki Wachee should be doing everything it can to preserve the spring and the park, it continues to create controversy and breed mistrust by disregarding its responsibilities and alienating the people upon whom its success depends. That's a novel marketing plan.
Will the City of Mermaids call Swiftmud's bluff again? We can't wait to see who's in the driver's seat.