Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Bessemer — New medical marijuana caregivers setting up shop in Bessemer may soon have to get a business license from the city after the city council had the first reading of a proposed ordinance Monday.
The council passed the measure to have caregivers register as a home business 3-2, with council members Linda Nelson and Allen Archie voting no.
The ordinance wouldn’t impact anyone growing their own medical marijuana or any caregivers already growing marijuana for others.
“This only applies to medical marijuana growing facilities under 72 plants, that start after the day of adoption of this,” City Manager Charly Loper said. “So basically, this is saying we’re not encouraging more medical marijuana facilities but it’s one of those that if someone comes to town, they have to come up here and apply for a home occupation permit.”
Other home businesses have restrictions and steps they have to go through to operate in the city, Mayor Adam Zak said, and the ordinance would just impose similar restrictions on marijuana caregivers.
Among the goals of the ordinance, according to Loper, is addressing potential odor issues and keeping the businesses from being within 1,000 feet from a school or daycare facility as required by the federal drug-free school zone policy.
Archie expressed concern that the ordinance wouldn’t be able to prevent caregivers from operating if a preschool or similar business opened nearby after the caregiver was operating.
Zak argued the proposed ordinance may not be perfect, but it was better than not having anything.
“They could be there anyway, not matter what. This is at least trying something to help out with the odor, to help out with restricting them out of certain locations,” he said.
Without the ordinance, caregivers can operate out of their homes anywhere and without notifying the city.
“As it is now, they can just move into town and just do whatever they want. This way, at least they have to register with us so we know they’re here,” Councilman Rob Coleman said.
The measure doesn’t impact existing businesses and a public hearing needs to be scheduled before the ordinance can be passed.
Nelson called the measure a waste of money, saying there was nothing in the current state law that required caregivers to register with the city and there was the potential the law would change in November depending on whether a statewide proposal regarding marijuana passed.
While Loper acknowledged similar laws in other communities haven’t been challenged in court to determine their legality, she said other communities appeared to be successful in using it so far.
In other action:
—The council approved several potential changes to the city charter, including a measure that would reduce the amount of time a person has to be a Bessemer resident before running for council from 2 years to 1 year. Other measures will increase the amount the city can sell property for and give the council the power to call emergency meetings if needed.
—The council approved advertising the sale of several city-owned lots.
—The council set condemnation hearings on the structures at 1713 and 1715 Woolsey Street.
—The council adopted changes to its zoning ordinance.
—The council requested a payment of $67,235 from the US Department of Agriculture for work done on the city’s water and sewer project.
—The council also approved a change order of $11,547 for extra erosion control work done as part of a project on Mine Street.
—The council ratified a 3.5-year contract with the city’s union employees.
—The council also ratified an agreement with Ironwood Township to allow township residents to use the Bessemer Library.
