Lind Council extends marijuana moratorium

At their Oct. 24 meeting, the Lind Town Council approved extending the Town’s marijuana moratorium for another six months after November.

Back in May, Council approved an ordinance establishing a moratorium on marijuana producing, processing and sales in the Town.

The council adopted the moratorium to allow for additional time to discuss rules and regulations, and receive input from the community as to whether or not residents would want a marijuana business located within Lind.

Since council adopted the moratorium, the town has collected feedback from residents in two ways.

One of those was a public informational meeting where Adams County Economic Director Stephen McFadden presented rules and information regarding Adams County’s regulations for the marijuana industry.

The other way the Town gathered feedback was through a questionnaire staff sent in utility bills to households, asking residents if they wanted to have a marijuana business located in Lind.

Of the 86 responses staff received, 44 of the said they not in favor of a marijuana business in Lind and 36 were in favor. Two of the responses were undecided and four were deemed altered and did not count toward the yes/no answers.

There was also a concern from council and residents the 86 responses that were turned in only represented a small percentage of the town’s opinion. Council also clarified the questionnaire was an attempt to gauge the town’s feelings on the matter and not an actual vote.

Prior to the meeting, council reviewed the City of Ritzville’s ordinance regarding regulations on marijuana production, processing and retail sales within city limits.

The document states medical marijuana cooperatives must be 1,000 feet from other medical marijuana cooperatives, public areas and schools.

It also includes a 500-foot buffer for marijuana producers, processors and retailers from residential zones, public parks, recreation centers, libraries, child care centers, game arcades and 100 feet from public transit centers.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dworshak suggested council could put a measure on the February 2018 election and residents could vote about whether or not they want to see a marijuana business in Lind. He noted placing a measure on the ballot would cost $3,000.

Resident Rose Elkington suggested council could extend the moratorium until May. Like Dworshak, Elkington also suggested placing a measure on the ballot in the February 2018 election as it would give more residents an opportunity to vote on the issue.

Council also agreed to review the Ritzville ordinance, but would draft their ordinance to make it relevant to Lind.

Elkington said when Council drafts an ordinance, they would need to include the production, processing and retail elements of marijuana business, but council could amend the document to allow one type of marijuana business but not the others.

For example, she said council could draft an ordinance to allow a cannabis retail business, but refrain from having production and processing in the town limits.

In other business, Paul Kimmel, Regional Business Manager with Avista, informed Council that Strata Solar is working on a solar farm development outside of Lind’s town limits.

Kimmel said there will be a public meeting at on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Lind Community Church to allow residents to gain information and ask questions about the project.