Judge delays mermaid decision

By JOHN FRANK, Times Staff Writer
Published August 17, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - A lawsuit involving the Weeki Wachee mermaids will not go to trial next week as planned, a judge decided Thursday, but the kitschy institution is still swimming in murky legal waters.

Senior Marion County Circuit Judge William Swigert delayed the trial after it became clear that too many legal issues remained unresolved between the attraction managers and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The city of Weeki Wachee owns the attraction and adjacent water park but leases the land from the water district, commonly known as Swiftmud.

Both parties have sued seeking resolution to a number of issues.

Weeki Wachee Springs' managers want the judge to decide if the city is permitted to own a for-profit business, which Swiftmud alleges is illegal.

Swiftmud officials are asking the judge to declare the 30-year lease void because the attraction dredged part of the springs without a permit and later filed an injunction, violating the lease.

Swigert said he would like to make a ruling within the next 30 days.

John Frank can be reached at jfrank@sptimes.com or 754-6114.

[Last modified August 16, 2007, 21:48:29]