They also want to know whether the city could sell the land but hold on to the right to pump water from the spring if necessary. The city of St. Petersburg bought about 450 acres around Weeki Wachee Spring in December 1940. Ten years after the purchase, a popular tourist attraction opened and has made mermaids part of the Hernando County landscape. Even though Hernando leaders have opposed the idea of developing or pumping the city's holdings, St. Petersburg leaders have mulled both. City leaders, who are getting their own appraisal, think that is significantly less than what the land is worth.
Council members remain divided about the best use of the land.
Several think the issue should be put before the voters, who might not want the city to negotiate with the state at all. 19 part of the city's waterfront, which means voters have to approve of a sale. Even if a referendum passed, six of the eight council members would have to support the sale for it to close. School Superintendent John Sanders wrote the city last month that the School Board would be interested in 20 acres in the northwest or southeast corner of U.S. 19 and State Road 50. She said it was foolhardy to give up a resource that might come in handy as other natural water sources dry up.