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Oldsmar rejects desalination plant By DEBORAH O'NEIL © St. Petersburg Times, published April 9, 1998 LDSMAR -- For the first time, city officials have voiced their opposition to a proposed desalination plant on the Mobbly Bay peninsula. But unlike Tarpon Springs' leaders who voted unanimously against a similar plan to put a desalination plant near their city, Oldsmar City Council members are split on the issue. Tuesday night, the Oldsmar City Council voted 3-2 to draft a resolution opposing the proposal by Florida Progress to build the facility next to Higgins Power Plant. "I've been against it since the beginning," said council member Ed Manny, who suggested the resolution. The Florida Progress plan is one of five being considered by the West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority to supplement the area's drinking water supply. West Coast has named the Florida Progress proposal No. 1 in a preliminary ranking that evaluated the plans' technical, environmental and financial merits. Mayor Jerry Beverland and council member Jeff Sandler voted against the resolution. Both said they do not have enough information to come out against the proposal. West Coast is still reviewing the plans, and its board has not decided whether a plant will be built. "I don't think I've ever heard anyone up here say that they're in favor of putting the plant there," Sandler said. "What I don't like is the idea that the council is going to stake out a position before the facts are known." Manny said he doesn't need any more information to know Mobbly Bay is the wrong place. The salty leftovers of the desalination process most concern Manny and council members Babe Wright and Ed Richards, who fear damage to Mobbly Bay's wetlands. In Tarpon Springs, leaders fear the salt concentrate from a plant proposed just outside the city limits would harm the Anclote River. Florida Progress officials say the salt would be diluted so such dangers are averted. City Attorney Tom Trask will write the resolution and bring it before the council later this month for a final vote. Business | Citrus | Commentary | Entertainment Hernando | Floridian | Obituaries | Pasco | Sports State | Tampa Bay | World & Nation © Copyright 1998 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.