Council supports cannabis plant

Having a medical cannabis cultivation facility and processing plant here is far from a certainty, but it was the consensus of Olney City Council at its regular meeting Monday to support investigating the idea.

Mayor Ray Vaughn said the Richland County Development Corporation Board, aware of recent legislation in Illinois regarding medical marijuana, discussed the idea as part of its attempt to keep up with economic development opportunities.

RCDC Executive Director Courtney Yockey said that as part of legislation that went into effect January 1, cultivation facilities and processing plants will be allowed in any Illinois State Police district. He said this would include a greenhouse and processing facility.

Yockey said the facilities would be heavily regulated and the applications would be strict.

He said that in a recently Illinois Farm Bureau magazine there was an advertisement for an organization that was searching for a location.

There would be some restrictions regarding location, Yockey said, noting that they could not be within 2,500 feet of a school, daycare or areas that are zoned for residential use.

There is the potential for anywhere from 10 to 20 jobs and possibly as many as 100 with such a facility, he said.

Vaughn said community support would be an issue.

Yockey said part of the application process would go toward showing whether a facility would be a good fit for a community.

He said the RCDC is in favor of investigating the issue.

The state is still working on finalizing rules and regulations and it hopes to release applications by the end of summer. Completed applications would be sent to the Department of Agriculture.

Applying could be expensive. Although the cost is not final, Yockey said the application process could exceed $25,000, which would be non-refundable. There would could also be a $200,000 cost associating with licensing.

“Which all goes to the state,” said Councilman Brad Brown. “Correct,” said Yockey.

Councilwoman Barb Thomas asked if the city or county should do anything to show it was receptive to the idea.

Yockey said this would come as part of the application. He said the city and county would need to show support.

Two audience members spoke in support of the idea.

David Eckiss said the city should move quickly. He said that once a facility was in place, it could become a marketing tool and the community would also be in a better position if marijuana were regulated “across the board,” because the market would flood quickly.

Mike McKinney said the use would be very closely restricted and there would security measures in place.

Yockey read briefly about the historical uses of marijuana medicinally and its support in the medical community.

Page 2 of 2 – Thomas and Councilman Bob Ferguson each said they saw a report on 60 Minutes regarding medical marijuana helping a girl who suffered from seizures.

Audience member Brian O’Neill said he had seizures and asked how much he could smoke. He also spoke against the city supporting having a facility here, stating that it would result in more crime.

Yockey said there would be a constant ISP video surveillance at the sites.

“It is simply a business opportunity for something that is now sanctioned by the state of Illinois,” Vaughn said.

It was the consensus of the council to support investigating the idea.

Yockey said after the meeting that there would be weekly audits of inventory and security controls; and only people who have access would have agent credentials and would have to be cleared by state, be 21 or older and never convicted of violent crimes or violation of substance laws.

He said there would be multiple layers of security to prevent unauthorized access.

In other business, the council:

• Approved appointing Bryan Pierce to the Airport Authority.

• After a closed session, approved an ordinance establishing hourly wages for part-time seasonal employees with special skills. The approved ordinance authorizes the employees to be paid up to $12.50 an hour.

•Approved the sale of miscellaneous scrap metal at the Public Works Center to Scrap Daddy.

• Accepted quotes from Heartland Pump, of Carterville, for two trash pumps for the Sewer Department. Formal bidding procedures were waived.

The low quotes from Heartland Pump were $19,300 for a four-inch trash pump and $27,500 for a six-inch trash pump, along with $2,951.70 for accessories for a total of $49,751.70.

The other quotes were from KM Specialty Pumps & Systems, Inc., of Chandler, Ind., for $26,310 for the four-inch pump, $33,738 for the six-inch pump, and $1,800 for shipping, for a total of $61,848.

Taylor said there was $95,000 budgeted for the project, but this was when the city thought it would need an eight-inch pump.

• Heard public comments from Brian O’Neill, who who spoke about illegal drinking and said a woman he saw illegally drinking outside came up to him and pulled her dress up, exposing herself.

Source

Council supports cannabis plant