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Mote Marine still interested in Island Wastewater Plant
Potential project, ignored by council so far in its quest for bond money, may still have legs; would negate the need for much of the beach purchase expense
-- John Patten, 10/30/03
-- jpatten@veniceflorida.com

Got a comment? Make it here.

$800,000 to tear down the plant? Hold on a minute...
In the rush to raise votes for the $10 million dollar bond, one profitable source of revenue has been deliberately overlooked.

A few years back, Mote Marine Laboratory had proposed taking over the Island Beach Wastewater Plant and converting it into a research facility. The idea went nowhere, but Mote has been hovering in the background, hoping to get another shot at the plant.

The idea is fairly simple. Mayor Calamaras has stated at the bond sales pitches that it will take approximately $800,000 to tear down the plant in order to convert the land into a park. Mote's idea is to keep the money, they'll take the plant as-is and convert it over to their needs at their own expense. The existing tanks and storage facilities can be easily converted to sea life tanks -- clean them out, reline them, cut out holes in the sides and place glass in the newly created ports, etc. The place is already almost custom designed for such an enterprise.

As to the rest of the land -- the beach, the retention pond, park amenities? No problem, shouldn't affect what Mote wants out of the deal, and Mote shouldn't affect anything around them except the actual buildings. The city saves $800,000 and gets a new neighbor, and what a new neighbor we get: the prestigious marine research organization that is renowned worldwide for their research into aquatic life and the environment.

That's a win/win with major bragging rights.

Neal VanDeRee, of Auctions by VanDeRee, gave another pitch to council back in March of this year (council minutes). VanDeRee's presentation before council was greeted by blank stares and head scratching. Some twenty minutes later, it was completely forgotten, so completely that when I mentioned Mote's interest in the plant to the mayor at one of the recent bond whistle stops, Calamaras stated he hadn't heard anything about Mote's interest in the plant in at least three or four years.

Jim Leis, council candidate from last year's election, has recently become intrigued with the idea. He gave VanDeRee a call and suddenly the once-dead idea may spring back to life again.

VanDeRee sent out an e-mail to everyone he could think of inviting them to city hall next Monday to discuss the matter. He asked that it be forwarded on. Since this web site does not engage in spam, here's the next best thing -- Neal's e-mail in full. Consider it as your personal invitation, you are more than welcome to sit in.

From: VeniceAquarium@aol.com
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003
Subject: You are invited to the Venice Aquarium/Mote Marine South Committee

I would like to invite you to a meeting to be held at the City Hall
building in the Community Hall Room on Monday, November 3rd at 4:00 PM. The
meeting will last one hour and we will discuss and seek comments on the future of
the waste water treatment plant by the Venice Fishing Pier. It will be held by
the Venice Aquarium/Mote Marine South Committee. This will be an open
meeting, and anyone with interest in this project is welcome. In addition to many of
the committee members that have worked on this project over the past 10 years,
Dr. Kumar Mahadevan and Dan Bebak of Mote Marine will be in attendance.

We will be looking for volunteers to help with the ultimate
transformation of the Plant into the Venice Aquarium.

I hope you can make it.

Sincerely,
Neal VanDeRee
941-488-1500