Dakota
Well-known member
City to look at tour business lease
Mike Wright
For three years, operators of Manatee Tour and Dives Corp. have paid the city of Crystal River $2,000 a month to lease property at the end of Northwest Third Street for their business.
Managers wanted to extend the lease another five years. Crystal River officials, however, aren’t so sure.
The city council voted 5-0 Monday night to seek business proposals for the property on Kings Bay near the heart of the city’s community redevelopment district.
Manatee Tour managers William and Lisa Rhan said they are good stewards of the property and they regularly encourage customers to visit shops and restaurants in Crystal River.
Council members, particularly Jim Farley, said they’ve heard complaints from nearby residents about noise emanating from the company’s airboat tours.
City Manager Andy Houston said the city cited Manatee Tour for the airboat noise. The business fought the citation until recently.
He also said other businesses have asked the city about leasing the property, one of the few direct accesses to Kings Bay.
“Waterfront access being limited as it is, that’s a very valuable piece of property,” Houston said.
Council members said taxpayers deserve the best return on any lease.
“I don’t think that property is living up to its potential,” Councilwoman Maureen McNiff said.
Lisa Rhan said the company moved the airboat to Twin Rivers Marina. Airboat operator Capt. Bobby Stevens said he plans to run tours in the Salt River and away from homes.
“We’ve got it out there of there so it’s not bothering anybody,” he said.
Capt. Bob Hoover, president of the Citrus County Airboat Alliance, chided council members for citing Manatee Tour. He said the council should “bulldoze” the city and sell it to Disney.
Farley interrupted him. “You’re doing more damage to their cause than you can imagine,” he said.
Houston said preparing requests for proposals and reviewing submissions should take about three months.
The lease with Manatee Tour expires in February.
Citrus County Chronicle Online
http://www.chronicleonline.com/articles ... news20.txt
Mike Wright
For three years, operators of Manatee Tour and Dives Corp. have paid the city of Crystal River $2,000 a month to lease property at the end of Northwest Third Street for their business.
Managers wanted to extend the lease another five years. Crystal River officials, however, aren’t so sure.
The city council voted 5-0 Monday night to seek business proposals for the property on Kings Bay near the heart of the city’s community redevelopment district.
Manatee Tour managers William and Lisa Rhan said they are good stewards of the property and they regularly encourage customers to visit shops and restaurants in Crystal River.
Council members, particularly Jim Farley, said they’ve heard complaints from nearby residents about noise emanating from the company’s airboat tours.
City Manager Andy Houston said the city cited Manatee Tour for the airboat noise. The business fought the citation until recently.
He also said other businesses have asked the city about leasing the property, one of the few direct accesses to Kings Bay.
“Waterfront access being limited as it is, that’s a very valuable piece of property,” Houston said.
Council members said taxpayers deserve the best return on any lease.
“I don’t think that property is living up to its potential,” Councilwoman Maureen McNiff said.
Lisa Rhan said the company moved the airboat to Twin Rivers Marina. Airboat operator Capt. Bobby Stevens said he plans to run tours in the Salt River and away from homes.
“We’ve got it out there of there so it’s not bothering anybody,” he said.
Capt. Bob Hoover, president of the Citrus County Airboat Alliance, chided council members for citing Manatee Tour. He said the council should “bulldoze” the city and sell it to Disney.
Farley interrupted him. “You’re doing more damage to their cause than you can imagine,” he said.
Houston said preparing requests for proposals and reviewing submissions should take about three months.
The lease with Manatee Tour expires in February.
Citrus County Chronicle Online
http://www.chronicleonline.com/articles ... news20.txt