Special Edition: The Riverland Chronicle

  A special meeting of the Dunnellon City Council will be held on July 10th, for public comment on the proposed annexation and development of the present Rainbow Springs State Park property, located on Highway 41 just north of the city.

  The developer, Carpetbag Properties, Inc., has asked for the annexation, and has won preliminary approval from the Marion County Board of Commissioners. The development, which is to be called Rainbow Springs Ranches, will include luxury waterfront homes and condominiums, a shopping center, and a private beach area surrounding the headwaters area of the Rainbow River. All of this will be contained within a private gated community.

  The developer’s representative, Mr. J. Curtis Slime, has defended the exclusive project’s gated access, stating that the gates will “keep out the riff-raff.” Mr. Slime also contended that the present Park is underutilized, and a waste of valuable prime property. “Why should this beautiful spot be maintained for the sole benefit of some birds and fish?” he said. “We have people coming from up north that will pay big bucks to live right on the water!”

  John Laytor, mayor of Dunnellon, stated that the city would stand to benefit from the annexation in terms of increased tax revenue, and that the developers were “good guys”, whose sole intention was the progress and advancement of the town of Dunnellon. “I played golf with Mr. Slime last week, and he is a true visionary”, said Laytor.

  The project also has the support of Audubon International, The Marion County Builders Association, and all of the local newspapers, including the Riverland Chronicle. In the coming weeks, we will be publishing glowing articles on the benefits of the development, (as long as the checks keep clearing).

  The public will have an opportunity to speak on the issue at the upcoming meeting, as fifteen minutes has been set aside for that purpose. Persons deemed to be unruly, contrary, or otherwise disruptive will not be allowed to speak at the meeting. Persons not domiciled within the city limits of Dunnellon will not be allowed to speak.

  In the words of mayor Laytor, “Dunnellon is changing, growing. You can either lead, follow, or get out of the way!”