The Crookston City Council met in the City Hall council chambers on Monday night.
The council presented its first reading on cannabis products and usage throughout city limits. The city cannot make any changes to regulations for cannabis use that the state has mandated. City Administrator Corky Reynolds explains, “What the council did tonight was pass the resolution to create an ordinance to put a moratorium on certain aspects of the cannabis legislation that the state enacted recently.”
Recent legislative guidelines state that individuals can possess up to two ounces of cannabis if they are 21 or older. An individual can grow up to eight plants in their residence, up to four of which can be flowering. The moratorium does not impact these guidelines.
The council sought an ordinance to see where cannabis usage could occur. Reynolds stated other laws that were discussed, “how do we regulate such things as ordinances? Where can ordinances occur? Schools? How far away? What kind of fire ordinances are we going to need? What kind of fire ordinances are we going to need,” said Reynolds, “that’s what the council did tonight. Let’s let our administrative team find how we as a city can impact the orderly process of the business of marijuana sale.”
The moratorium states an exception to medical marijuana use by saying that medicinal marijuana is appropriate when prescribed, allowed, and proper. The suspension is put in place to put regulations on the business of cannabis, which is described with terms like sale, manufacturing, transporting, delivery, and distribution. Reynolds explains how the city can process the new rules in place from the legislature, “this multiple hundred-page piece of legislation needs to be digested, it needs to be looked at,” said Reynolds, “how does Crookston want to work within what’s allowed and what isn’t?” The last item on this topic was the council was asked to consider the possibility of a municipal dispensary. The board agreed to further discussion on the subject, pending information on the cost of the project, as well as wages, location, designs, etc.
CROOKSTON AIRPORT FINDS RESOLUTIONS
The council approved the resolutions regarding the Crookston Airport Manager’s agreement with Lowell Miller, which renews his three-year contract. The board also approved the resolution of the fixed base operator’s agreement which allows Lowell Miller to use specific space to repair aircraft that arrive, and the board approved the commercial agricultural hangar lease, which is a 10-year agreement that allows municipal use of Dan’s Flyer Service Hangar.
CENTRAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS IMPROVEMENTS
The council approved partial payment to Spruce Valley Corporation for the Central Park Campground in the amount of $11,013.20.
The council also approved partial payment to Spruce Valley for the Agricultural Road Street and utility construction for $25,418.34. This project also includes a $500,000 grant from the state of Minnesota, where the city must match 25% of the grant totaling $125,000.
WAYS AND MEANS
The Ways and Means Committee met immediately following the adjournment of the city council meeting in the city hall council chambers. It included recommending Josh Knaack for the Crookston Housing and Economic Development Board and Tim Menard to be the Liaison of the Golden Link Senior Center. Reynolds explained, “The mayor recommended that Josh Knaack be appointed to the EDA board,” said Reynolds,” Josh brings an agricultural background. He’s a younger gentleman in town who expressed an interest in being on the EDA board.”
Reynolds also explained the selection of Tim Menard, “Tim is a long-time citizen of Crookston; he is an elderly citizen who will fit right in the Golden Link,” said Reynolds, “he is recommended by the council to be that Liaison.”
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