CAN YOU SEE A POLK COUNTY - WINTER HAVEN ANNEXATION CONTROVERSY ON THE HORIZION?

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park has been fully open less than a week, and it certainly didn't take the City of Winter Haven long to focus it's annexation eyes on the taxing possibilities. A couple of things may help bring park owner Kent Buescher to the city's side:

--- He would save money by not having to pay the city's 25% surcharge for utility services for non-city residents. Winter Haven provides the water and sewer services for the Cypress Gardens area.

--- And the park already owes the city almost $70,000 for utility servies, not counting a $42,825 deposit. The city didn't bother setting up a service account for Cypress Gardens, and the amount of the debt is being disputed by Buescher.

Of course, a number of other entities will have to sign off on any agreement. The Polk County Commission has a big say, since they provided part of the funding to make the deal making Buescher's purchase happen. The state, various lenders, and equity partners would also have some part in any decision on approving annexation into Winter Haven. But the County Commission's sign off if by no means final, as at least one commissioner is saying he would not vote for it.

When ya got somethin' goin' good, everybody wants a piece of it, and the bigger the piece...the better. Unless, of course, you're in Tampa living near the Ford Ampitheatre.