Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Marenisco — Members of the Marenisco Township Board of Trustees voted Monday evening to table action on a newly-drafted ordinance in relation to recreational marijuana enterprise.
After a report from Township Attorney Jim Bucknell, who drafted the new terms, board members agreed with Supervisor Bruce Mahler that it would be best to clarify issues on zoning and on the related role of the Planning Commission.
No matter what new information is unveiled, Bucknell warned of the need for a related public hearing. Still, he assured that proper “procedure” shouldn’t take much more time.
The board originally had a public hearing with mixed opinions in the spring of 2019 and afterward voted to pass an ordinance allowing for recreational marijuana enterprise within the township.
However, the public then petitioned to have the matter added to that year’s November ballot and ultimately voted the ordinance down.
Before the end of that year, the board rescinded the ordinance but did not take any action since then, leaving the township in what Mahler described as a “no man’s land.”
The result, according to Bucknell, is that if the state agreed to issue someone a license for recreational marijuana enterprise in Marenisco, the township would not be positioned to control it.
He explained that his newly-revised “scaled down” ordinance addresses the issue by allowing for carefully crafted enterprise that would be limited to the former Ojibway Correctional Facility, which closed in 2018.
“We want to be able to regulate and to make sure these businesses don’t come in and pop up all over,” said Bucknell.
Mahler also pointed out in his January newsletter to the township, “This will keep the commercial marijuana businesses out of the areas that the populace via referendum said they wanted safeguarded but give a potential re-use of the OCF facility.”
The most aggressive interest shown so far in the former OCF property has come from RaushCo Agriscience Inc., which approached the board last March and has been working actively with the state ever since. The company also recently submitted a repurposing plan in relation to the former OCF property.
Meanwhile, the state is awaiting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signature on legislature that would allow the Marenisco property to be sold at fair value via the state Department of Management and Budget.
Mahler said that RaushCo would like to pursue a broad array of recreational marijuana licensing, but he added that questions also remain regarding how many licenses the state would allow the company to receive.
Despite the strong interest from RaushCo, Mahler said, “We don’t know whether that’s going to occur or not.”
Overall, board members agreed with Mahler and Bucknell that creating a tentative Commercial-2 zoning status would cover the most probable potential interests while also allowing the township to receive taxes.
The supervisor said he had rejected consideration of agricultural zoning, in part because of limited tax potential.
Mahler said that other interests in the former OCF site have included or could include a possible health center, industrial manufacturing or even an educational center. He noted that one potential investor provided “no idea” as to his specific interest.
State law already allows for medical marijuana activity and — within limited parameters — for personal use and growth of recreational marijuana.
Monday’s vote was unanimous with all members present.
In other news, board members voted to table action on hiring a new police chief. This was a repeat of last month’s action and for the same reason of insufficient data on the township’s financial standing.
Mahler thanked Treasurer Kathy Leonard for providing recent financial reports, but he added that it would be “prudent” to wait until the township receives its next revenue-sharing check several weeks from now.
He estimates that last year’s census count might result in the township losing tens of thousands of dollars because of reduced population in accordance with the OCF closing.
Meanwhile, Citizens Research Council of Michigan also has warned that COVID-19 will lower revenue-sharing income because of a decline in sales tax revenue.
In addition, Mahler said he is also still waiting for an external audit of township funds.
Trustee Kelly Dunbar concluded that it “seems fine” to wait until spring to address the issue.
The board also:
—Voted to pay the township’s designated share of $3,615 to the Gogebic County Council of Veterans Affairs in Bessemer, which provides support and services to local veterans. According to a Jan. 4 letter from Veterans Service Officer John Frello, the amount requested was 2 percent less than last year.
—Learned from Clerk Donna Kenney that state grant potential exists for the creation of additional township trails.
The board’s next regular meeting will be on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. in the township hall. Due to COVID concerns, persons interested in attending should first call the town hall at 906-787-2463.