Farmer City talks cannabis

City Manager Larry Woliung noted at Monday’s meeting that Farmer City is one of the many communities in the police district that have been approached and have discussed bringing a Cannabis grow facility to their town. 

Woliung said Rockford, Ill. is a likely suitor for the facility, but Farmer City is also in the running. 

He refuted various media reports that LeRoy was a frontrunner for the facility. 

Different media outlets had reported that different towns are likely suitors for the plant, but the bill making medicinal marijuana legal in Illinois has not even passed the state legislature, and might not be signed into law until September. 

Each police district can only have one marijuana growing facility and one dispensary. The dispensary would likely be in a larger urban area, while small towns are preferred for the grow facilities. 

Woliung said there is a property that fits requirements — the farm must be at least 2,500 feet away from residential or school areas — but he said the farm would only use 10 acres of the 20-acre plot of land. 

He said he had a conversation with the potential developer of the property, and it was noted that if a fast food restaurant  or other company wanted to develop next to the cannabis farm, it would be able to do so. 

Woliung also noted that the city has municipal electricity, and during recent storms, other towns lost power while Farmer City did not. He said he informed the potential developer of this, noting it was a positive in terms of bringing the facility to Farmer City. 

The facility would create anywhere between 40-100 jobs, and would be under constant surveillance. 

Still, too much is up in the air with the law for any discussions to indicate any community is more likely to receive the facility than any other. 

Woliung said he is scheduled to have a conference call in regards to the possible development later in July. 

 

Kiwanis Honored 

Farmer City Kiwanis president Jerry McKinley was in attendance to accept an honor bestowed to the club on behalf of the city. 

Mayor Mike Jenkins presented McKinley with a plaque for the service the club has provided for the city parks, and in particular their most recent project at South Park. 

 

Other Discussion 

Council member Willard McKinley said he thought there should be a traffic light at the corner of West Street and Market Street, as well as at West and Green Streets. 

He also reiterated that many water meters need replacing, although a good portion of them had already been replaced. Woliung said the water department has been busy replacing many of them, and would continue to do so. 

McKinley also noted that street patching needed to be done in many areas, and Woliung said the street department had been busy with the water department getting a water main to South Park, as well as handling other issues. 

Woliung said more permanent street repairs would be coming, but schedules have been full. 

McKinley said the council should sit down to talk about actions needed in 2015 for the next fiscal year. He said the council has been ignoring too much work that needs to be done, and a meeting to address the issues was necessary. 

Council member Mac Harden said there were some dead trees and bushes in South Park by the new playground that needed addressing, and Woliung noted a landscaper was hired, but has not started the process yet. 

Harden said there were other repairs needed at the park, particularly in regards to the back stop at the ball fields and to the gazebo on the property. Woliung said they would have to wait a year to do so. 

McKinley said it is time Farmer City got a park district. 

“It would be a tough sell (to voters),” he said, noting that it would also be an advantage to the community despite raised taxes. 

He said he would like to talk to the city attorney as to how to get a park district on the ballot for a vote in the future. 

Councilman Josh Hawn said he has been receiving complaints, and the city needs to address high electric rates, and it needs to be done soon. 

The council also unanimously approved a $1,000 charity grant from the hotel/motel tax for an Oct. 12 swap meet and car show. 

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Farmer City talks cannabis