Sarasota-The Sarasota County, Fla., Commission voted 3-2 on Nov. 27 not to continue negotiating with The Mosaic Co. on an agreement to end opposition to the company’s mining plans in exchange for stricter environmental requirements. The commission left it up to Mosaic to approach it on continuing negotiations to reach a final agreement. Mosaic spokesman David Townsend said the following day that the company was in the process of restarting talks with the county. Townsend said the Sarasota Commission was split, with two members strongly for and two strongly against the proposal, so efforts must be made to convince the swing commissioner. He pointed out that a week earlier Charlotte County, which has led the financial battle against advancing phosphate mining, approved the deal by a 4-1 vote. Charlotte has spent approximately $10 million to litigate against mining plans in recent years. In exchange for providing guarantees of stricter environmental practices in developing mines in Southwest Florida, the agreement called for the counties to not protest the permits Mosaic seeks for the next 15 years. In order for the deal to take effect, Lee County and the Peace River/ManaSota Regional Water Supply Authority, as well as Charlotte and Sarasota counties, must give their approval. Lee County may consider voting on the agreement sometime in December or January, but no date has been set by the water supply authority.
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