Is Sarasota’s tap water up to snuff? A new study by University of Central Florida researchers will examine the water quality following a vote by Sarasota city commissioners to spend $197,265 on a study. But that price tag was hard to choke down for some city officials.

“I’ve experienced odorous drinking water, and it doesn’t seem to me we have a problem,” says City Commissioner Hagen Brody, who voted against the study. The 3-2 vote to hire UCF came after a contentious discussion about what warrants this level of analysis right now.

But City Manager Tom Barwin says quality drinking water should come before other financial concerns. He says that while fiscal responsibility would always be a vital demand on government, the core missions including a clean water supply, proper sewage treatment and public safety remain paramount. “If there is something that is more important to the city, I would like know what it is,” Barwin says.

Brody took umbrage at those remarks and noted there’s been no question raised about whether Sarasota’s drinking water remains clean and safe. The question should be whether the city needs to undergo this type of study right now.

The motion approved Monday makes a UCF team the sole researcher on drinking water quality, treatment and distribution system operations. A team of graduate students led by Dr. Steven Durance will focus on improving the reliability of the seawater recharge process, removal of sulfates from raw water supply and gaining a better understanding of microbiological activity in the city’s raw water.

City Commissioner Liz Alpert says she’s fine with the contract because a study will provide better information on whatever improvements may be required in the future. “A lot of decisions need to be made and what we do with utilities, and we don’t just do them,” she says. “We make sure to do the most cost-effective thing, and you do a study so you know you are not putting it in the wrong place.” She also disagreed with Brody about finding the current water quality in Sarasota to be acceptable.

Mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie joined with Brody in voting against the study, but said her greatest issue came from the process. While the city has a years-long relationship with UCF researchers, she believes the budget request looked “padded” and would probably come in lower if the city had a more competitive selection process. “The citizens would be well-served if we would give others an opportunity to bid,” she says. While Barwin sounded amenable to that, a majority of commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of hiring UCF.