Nicole Rissler - Director of Parks and Recreation
Camp Venice $14M Purchase of Camp Venice
Rissler and staff ignored the elderly homeowners
Nicole Rissler turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the appalling treatment of the Camp Venice homeowners. The 13 families that owned homes in the park reached out to Rissler and plead that their rights afforded the them under the Florida Laws regarding Mobile homeowners be respected, her and her staff replied with the same response "The contract ... does require the removal of all park models prior to closing. We are aware that the park model leases are valid through December 31, 2025. "
Teresa Mast questions Rissler before vote to buy Camp Venice
Rissler put the contract together with Robert Kurens which makes no mention of the permanent families living on the property. Watch her being questioned by Teresa Mast before the vote. ( https://youtu.be/viQ50Ua0AfM ) Sarasota County Commissioner Teresa Mast questioned Rissler right before the unambitious vote to purchase Camp Venice for $14 million dollars. Mast inquires about what will happen to the 13 mobile homes (Park Models) and the homeowners.
Nicole admits she has been trying to buy the Camp for 6-7 years. Rissler refuses to call the people tenants and refers to the homeowners as "Park Models." Mast appears frustrated with with Rissler's deflection of any treatment of the existing homeowners. In the end, Rissler openly admitted that the owner Robert Kurens was NOT forthcoming with the homeowners leases.
Treatment of the elderly homeowners
Camp Venice closed their onsite office, quit cutting the grass, and maintaining the pool. Camp Venice management refused to fully refund deposits. A whistleblower revealed that the homeowner's phone numbers and emails were blocked. In August of 2025, a full 4 months before the homeowner's yearly lease was up, the homeowners got a 30-day notice that the utilities were going to be shut off, mail service canceled, and the gates were going to be closed,
After the sale, Rissler got a big promotion and salary increase
Instead of being fired for her role in the sale, she got a big promotion and salary increase. The homeowners were forced to in some cases abandon their homes and walk away.
Those who voted on the Camp Venice sale
Teresa Mast - District 1
Teresa Mast actually questioned Nicole Rissler
(https://youtu.be/viQ50Ua0AfM ) before the unanimous vote to purchase Camp Venice on May 6th, 2025. Was she worried about the residents or the contract being jammed up by residents? You decide
Email tmast@scgov.net
Dr Joe Neunder - Chairman
Joe appears to be sympathetic to the residents and has asked his staff to review the contract.
We have not given up on Joe yet.
Joe is up for election this year.
Email jneunder@scgov.net
Mark Smith - District 2
Mark Smith voted yes, but made no comment on the sale.
Mark is up for election this year and has been seen around town speaking before local groups.
Mark ignored all emails from the 13 families who lost their home in Camp Venice.
Email mhsmith@scgov.net
Tom Knight - District 3
Tom is actually the Commissioner for the Camp Venice Area but was not responsive to pleas for help from the residents.
When he did answer emails about us losing our homes he replied "We
are excited about the Snook Haven area and look to preserve that area."
Email tknight@scgov.net
Ron Cutsinger - Vice Chair
Ron Cutsinger - Vice Chair
Ron voted yes but made no comment.
Ron ignored all emails from the 13 families who lost their home in Camp Venice.
Email rcutsinger@scgov.net
Sarasota Co Commissioners Districts
Sarasota County District Map
They all ran on transparency but the homeowners in Camp Venice were left in the dark and had no say whatsoever in the sale that is causing them to lose their homes. You may reach your local commissioner to voice concern over the treatment of the elderly residents at Camp Venice (next to Snook Haven.) Their general contact info is: commissioners@scgov.net
Their individual emails is above under their names
Park Manager
Camp Venice RV Resort Manager - Ann Moreland
Ann Moreland served as General Manager for Robert Kurens' properties, including Camp Venice and nearby Myakka River Resort. Residents claim she notified USPS around mid-August 2025 that the park was closed, resulting in incoming mail stamped 'Return to Sender'—no more deliveries after that. one resident filed a police report alleging invoice changes in the CampSpot system flipped paid invoices to 'past due,' possibly to dodge deposit refunds. Others shared texts promising full refunds that never came through—leaving folks out of pocket.
What we know
Camp Venice Park Owner - Robert Kurens
Florida is a sunshine state. Robert Kurens is the park owner according to public records from the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz.org.) Robert H. Kurens is the AMBR of Camp Venice LLC, the entity owning Camp Venice RV Resort in Venice, Florida. Kurens, a New York attorney admitted to the bar in 1983, has a history of investing in RV and mobile home properties in Florida. For example, in 2013, he purchased the Myakka River RV Resort for $2.58 million and Tropic Isle Park for $1.66 million, as reported in business news outlets like the Business Observer.
His primary activities appear to involve real estate management. Residents of Camp Venice RV Resort have raised concerns about Kurens' management practices, alleging actions that have led to significant hardship for the Park Model home owners facing displacement due to a $14 million sale to Sarasota County. According to long term residents and campers with reservations coming forward, many have filed public complaints with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) for unrefunded deposits.