TAVARES, Fla. — The city of Tavares wants to spend $13,000 on water bottles. It's the latest in what some residents are calling another waste of money. However, city officials say it is in an effort to brand Tavares "America's Seaplane City."
The city built a multi-million dollar seaplane base and now they want to put a logo on bottles of water. Tavares City Administrator John Drury said the town's latest promotion is genuine Tavares bottled water.
"It's really not a gimmick. We have a seaplane base here. We are America's seaplane city," Drury said.
Tavares spent millions building a seaplane base and marina and Drury wants $13,000 more to bottle and put the logo on water straight from one of the city's water plants.
"Is that good use of tax money?" WFTV reporter Berndt Petersen asked.
"The goal is to pay around .40 cents a bottle and re-sell them for $1," Drury said.
At the growing number of special events on the lakefront, it gets hot and people get thirsty. Potential customers say they believe it might work.
"If the town gets something out of it. People always buy water," said a resident.
But Drury says it's not about making money in the bottled water business, although the city might require its water to be the only brand sold by vendors at Wooton Park events.
Drury says it's really about marketing the city, putting the brand in a person's hand.
"Our goal is to let the public know America's seaplane city is doing well, is here, is new and it's now time to get the word out," Drury said.
If the city council approves, 40,000 bottles could be packaged in 60 days.
WFTV
