What you are not hearing of why the City of Weeki Wachee is no more:
What you are not hearing of why the City of Weeki Wachee is no more:
I’ve been following this story for many, many years. Two stories attached below hint at what’s really going on, but never state what was happening specifically. Ever since the State was given Weeki Wachee almost 20 years ago, it has wanted to get rid of the tiny City attached to it. The State wants to do as it pleases and not have pesky citizens getting in the way. Many politicians have tried to get rid of it so that contractors can get into the river, and the surrounding area and basically rebuild it.
Thing is, the City of Weeki Wachee didn’t want that. Neither did many others in the area. The City existed without having to collect actual taxes except from the commercial land across the street, which covered costs.
Basically the City of Weeki Wachee had a tax free community and could still take care of itself. An example that terrifies government types. Until the land was given to the State there were no problems as the State couldn’t do anything about it. As soon as the State had swallowed the City, they started after them. The City got into a bad money making scheme that cost the City plenty as they sought funds to keep the State at bay.
Soon there were lawsuits and the City ran out of cash for the fight. Now the politicians could make fun of the City “being underwater” and claim incompetency and other claims that sound good in the press. It took a few years but current politicians and the current governor succeeded in shutting the City down.
Now plans start to dredge and widen the river for more commercial activity and expansion of US19 and other connecting right-of-way. Also sets up development opportunities in the area that had been kept out.
Despite the St Peterburg/Tampa-Bay Times claim, there will be very significant changes coming to the park and the area. This will lead to some damage to the spring and the water way.
Also, Weeki Wachee is in a significant position involving planned expansion of US19 and the toll road projects. I wonder if this will be the end of the underwater theater? It could use work, but would cost a fortune. Hungry contractors could turn rebuilding that into a giant profit gain. But right-of-way needs for a fancy highway, might wipe it out.
Wish the Media would be more honest about what is going on. They were initially up front years ago and now is editing it out. I don’t expect us to learn any different in the future. That;’s why I talk to folks in areas around the state to find out what is really going on.
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https://www.hernandosun.com/article/city-weeki-wachee-dissolved-and-transferred-hernando-county
https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/2020/06/09/weeki-wachee-the-city-of-live-mermaids-is-no-more/
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