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Residents urge North Port to restore free water-aerobics at Warm Mineral Springs after volunteer seeks pay
Summary
Longtime volunteer instructor Bridget Craftsman told commissioners she stopped teaching water-aerobics at Warm Mineral Springs after city staff said participants must pay for classes; speakers said free classes boosted attendance and community value.
Bridget Craftsman, a longtime volunteer water-aerobics instructor at Warm Mineral Springs, told the City Commission on June 5 she stopped volunteering after asking to be paid and being told class participants would have to pay for instruction.
“For 20 some years, they got it free, and I'd like to see that come back to the spring,” Craftsman said. She described drawing 10 participants at the start of a session and growing to 30–40 during the class and said the volunteer instruction helped advertise the springs and attract visitors. “I buy the batteries. I take my precious old age time out. I'm worth it,” she said, explaining why she sought compensation.
Residents who spoke in support urged the commission to reinstate free volunteer classes. Ken Wells said the classes were popular and helped people of varying abilities exercise in the water; he argued letting Craftsman teach without requiring payment would benefit the springs and its visitors.
The remarks were made during the public-comment period. No commissioner motion, vote or staff directive on the classes or compensation appeared in the meeting transcript. The comments constitute community input the commission may consider in future programming or fee decisions for Warm Mineral Springs.
