BE Council Investigates New Marijuana Laws | News, Sports, Jobs

The interior of the former Wells Fargo Bank building (left) has been demolished so that new construction can soon begin.

Ahead of its regular meeting on Monday, August 5, the Blue Earth City Council took time for a work session to learn more about the city’s responsibilities regarding new marijuana business licensing procedures.

City Administrator Mary Kennedy explained new rules implemented by the Minnesota Office of Marijuana Management (OCM) during a half-hour work session.

The state will issue 13 different types of marijuana licenses, Kennedy explained.

Kennedy added that these include retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and many others.

“Once a company applies to the state OCM and is approved, the application is sent to the local government for final approval.” Kennedy said.

Final approval involves the city deeming that the applicant meets all the requirements of the local ordinance. This means that the city will have to create a local marijuana zoning ordinance.

A zoning ordinance could limit the number of locations where marijuana can be grown, restrict their proximity to schools, or introduce a fee.

Council members discussed whether they could limit operations to just one company or run it as a city.

Council member Ann Hanna asked if the city could issue licenses for marijuana cultivation.

Council member John Huisman said he believes the state, not the city, will control marijuana sales.

“They want to manage it to ensure the safety of those who choose to use it.” Huisman said. “It will be legal, which is a better situation.”

Hanna called this the “rainbows and butterflies” explanation.

Mayor Rick Scholtes emphasized that the city will receive 20 percent of the 10 percent license fee from the state, as well as money from the 1 percent sales tax.

“This is something we need to continue to work on.” said Scholtes. “The city is currently in a moratorium on this matter, but we need to continue working on our action plans before the end of the year.”

The council will discuss in more detail issues related to creating a new marijuana zoning ordinance at a work session prior to its next regular meeting.

During a regular city council meeting, Councilmember Jacque Drew pointed to a letter the city received from the Rainbow Food Co-op in which the co-op asked to consider opening a marijuana dispensary because it was interested in selling cannabis products.

“I wonder if we should tell them they need to apply to the state first?” Drew asked. The council was unsure whether OCM was accepting any applications at that time.

The City Council also devoted part of its short half-hour meeting to discussing how the name could change the image.

Administrator Kennedy informed the council that at the July 16 Senior Center board meeting, there was discussion about changing the facility’s name.

“The board agreed that there could be additional capacity to accommodate even more people if the facility’s name included the word ‘community’ but did not remove the word ‘seniors’” Kennedy said.

She added that board members exchanged views, one of which was concern about expectations regarding the expansion of the business if the facility is named “Community Center” instead of “Senior Center.

Other items included the desire of some community organizations, such as Community Ed at the school, to utilize the Senior Center for events and activities.

Ultimately, the Senior Center board passed a motion to recommend that the City Council consider changing the name to Blue Earth Community and Senior Center.

After further discussion at the City Council meeting on Monday, August 5, the City Council voted to officially recognize the name change.

In other matters discussed at the meeting, the council:

• A vote was taken to approve the list of 19 election judges who will work in the primary and general elections this year.

Two council members, Ann Hanna and Jacque Drew, abstained from voting on the motion because they are two of the 19 election judges.

• I heard an update on the progress of the new Town Hall building. Administrator Kennedy reported that the building had been completely gutted, including the removal of the £6,000 vault doors and deposit boxes from the former bank building.

The city has been waiting since March for the inspection of hydraulic works by the State Inspector of Water and Sewerage Installations.

• United Builders’ request to remove the sidewalk on the northeast side of the intersection of Nicollet and Fifth streets due to planned construction of a building on a currently vacant lot was approved.

• A property tax abatement application was approved for a development project located at 906 Upper Valley Drive.