As many as seven independent airboat operators have used the ramp, some of them for decades, often warily co-existing with Airboat Rides at Midway across the highway. Independent owners have said they’re worried they could be put out of business if the county went out to bid for permits, while Midway owner Derrick Lockhart said rival boats were operating without oversight.

Commissioner Emily Bonilla said she would prefer expanding the limit at S.R. 50 to five boat operators to make sure there was some level of competition.