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Klamath County backs planning for proposed annual hot-air balloon festival
Summary
Organizers and county staff will continue planning for a proposed hot-air balloon festival after presenters outlined tourism and economic benefits and Discover Klamath agreed to serve as fiscal sponsor; the Board signaled informal support and asked staff to stay involved.
Don Beatty and Millie Osguthorpe presented a proposal to establish an annual hot-air balloon festival in Klamath County, pitching the event as a tourism generator and economic multiplier. Discover Klamath has agreed to act as the festival’s fiscal sponsor so county funds would not be handled directly by the county, the presenters said.
Commissioner Minty urged authorizing county staff to participate in planning meetings and suggested that any future tourism-grant decisions might require a separate committee because of potential conflicts for grant panel members. Commissioner Nichols emphasized the county’s role in emergency management, traffic control and infrastructure planning for an event of this scale. Commissioner DeGroot said the Board should expect a later, direct request for funding but suggested the festival could eventually become self-sustaining.
The Board expressed general agreement for Don Beatty and county staff to proceed with planning and stakeholder work; no formal appropriation or binding commitment was recorded in the transcript.
