Michael Heard of the Blueberry Growers Association and Blueberry Festival organizer emailed the letter on page 2 to Mayor Robert Battista, Vice Mayor, Council Members and the Interim City Manager on Monday morning June 19, 2017. The letter informs the city that the Blueberry Festival Board of Directors have voted to “suspend the 2018 Festival in downtown Brooksville.” Additionally, they do not intend to “execute the lease on the quarry property.”
The lease agreement for McKethan Park (quarry property) was sent to the city’s attorney for the Blueberry Festival to finalize, but that never came to be. The city was under the impression the lease agreement would be signed on Monday, but a letter stating otherwise was delivered instead.
The city approved the lease agreement on February 6, 2017 with a 3-2 vote. The lease was for a 40 year term with an option to extend for an additional 20 years. The annual lease amount was $1 per year. Under the parameters of the lease, The Blueberry Festival was to submit a master plan on developing the property for use of a venue within three years of the commencement date. The lease would have terminated at the end of 5 years after the commencement date if 100% of construction funding had not been acquired.
Council members Erhard and Bernardini voted against approval.
Vice Mayor Erhard, while stating that she was in support of the festival, did not approve of the lease agreement because there was no bid process and council “forged ahead” with the lease despite all of the concerns of residents.
Bernardini also was unhappy with the lack of RFP’s and concerned with the potential decline of the festival over a long stretch of time due to a “change in leadership.”
Council members Kahler, Kemerer and Battista felt the public-private partnership was a good move and could lead the way for further economic development.
The lease agreement was signed by Mayor Battista, City Clerk Virginia Wright and City Attorney Jennifer Rey on April 24th, 2017 and notarized.