By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
With the passage of legal recreational marijuana in the State of Minnesota going into effect Aug. 1, the New Richland City Council heard from city attorney Jason Moran regarding the city’s options moving forward during its second council meeting of the month on Monday, July 24.
“This is a big change for law enforcement and a big change for all of us in the legal community,” Moran said.
Currently, the city has two options: to pass an interim ordinance prohibiting retail sale and issuance of retail licenses for cannabis up to Jan. 1, 2025, or to do nothing and allow. After Jan. 1, 2025, the city would have to allow at least one license for sale. The interim ordinance would allow the city time to get zoning ordinances regarding hours, places, and manner of operation, figured out between now and the deadline of Jan. 1, 2025.
It was noted that the state’s Department of Cannabis will eventually license retail THC establishments, though the state will not be ready to license establishments until early to mid-2024, giving the city more time for discussion and decision making regarding sales of THC in the city.
The council agreed to hold a public hearing on the matter, which has been scheduled for Aug. 14 at 6:35 p.m.
A public hearing was held during the meeting regarding vacating an alley running east to west between Cedar Avenue North and Birch Avenue North. With no members of the public present for comment, the council approved Resolution 23-13 to vacate the alley.
Bob Johannsen presented the care center report, stating that the center’s average census for June was 36.3. There were six admissions during the month and two residents were discharged to their homes. Overall, Johannsen said June “was a good month.”
The 2022 audit for the care center, which was due months ago, has not yet been completed but is expected to be received by the first week in August. Until the audit is received, the city cannot file its own audit, and City Administrator Tony Martens has been in contact with the company conducting the audit on multiple occasions.
The care center still has openings for CNAs, RN or LPN, and a bus driver.
“If you know of anybody in any of those positions, please forward them to us,” Johannsen said. “We’d like to fill up [the positions] and not have to use agency staffing any longer.”
It was also noted that the care center’s advisory board is now full. The report was approved.
The PeopleService report was submitted in writing, and it was noted that recent smoke testing identified one property with issues that are in the process of being addressed. The report was approved.
In the Water and Street report, it was stated that 25 blue cards were issued in June with one shutoff due to lack of payment. A catch basin was put in at 1st St. NE by the care center on July 13, and Affordable Jetting cleaned city hall on July 13 as well. In preparation for a new fence at Legion Field, the backstop was removed July 17-19, and a fence was removed behind the north softball field on July 11. Work to be done on the infield and outfield at Legion Field due to uneven ground at a cost of $2,743.75 was approved along with new tin on the dugout at the field at a cost of $3,600. The report was approved.
An update was given on St. Olaf Lake concession stands, which having not been utilized as much as hoped for this year, will only be open while lifeguards are at the lake. It was noted that the lake has not been used much this year despite an increase in swimming lesson participation, and it is thought this is due to the amount of weeds in the lake.
A contract with Jobs Plus for city hall, library, and fire hall cleaning was approved, which is expected to save the city about $2,000/year beginning with the 2024 budget. The administrator’s report was approved, and the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.