Another Review of The Great Balloon Festival

  It did not take long for the residents of the area to figure out the real reason for the balloon festival. We have been taken again. It appears as if this was planned as a marketing tool for the Rainbow River Ranch and the Cool Springs Ranch. Whatever they contributed to the festival they have gained ten fold with the help of the chief officer of the City of Dunnellon. He has been instrumental in organizing the festival. Most likely city personnel has been used in different ways, and overtime is a strong possibility. We must continue to help the developers.

  Do you honestly believe that the main group benefiting from all this is going to be the Boys and Girls Clubs of Marion County? This was the veil under which this festival arrived in Dunnellon. How could anyone oppose helping the club? The financial truth will never be known since tryng to obtain this type of information is very difficult and inaccurate.

  Approval for the Rainbow River Ranch is still in "litigation", meaning that the Department of Community Affairs has not approved the changes to the comprehensive plan. Administrative hearings are scheduled for the near future. However, RRR is already advertising as if their plans will be accepted, with estate-sized riverfront homes, boat launch area, and board walk access to the river in different locations, etc. None of this has been approved by the state or the city.
When you read the ads it sounds like a fait-accompli.

  I sincerely hope that pertinent information will be published at regular intervals for the benefit
of interested residents in the Dunnellon area.


Mike Fernandez
Dunnellon