Medical marijuana moratorium extended

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SIDNEY — Sidney City Council voted to extend the current medical marijuana moratorium until Oct. 9, 2017, at Monday evening’s meeting.

Council adopted the ordinance for the extension of the existing 270 day moratorium for any permits for retail dispensaries, cultivators or processors of medical marijuana within the city. Law Director/Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Amick said he believes the only changes that have occurred since council implemented the current moratorium is number of allotted dispensaries in Ohio has been increased from 40 to 60.

Sidney Parks & Recreation Director Duane Gaier presented council with information gathered on new recreational opportunities for Sidney. Gaier said council made this one of their main goals while at their 2016 retreat. He said in Ohio, outdoor recreation generates $17.4 billion in consumer spending and produces $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.

Potential recreation opportunities presented included: river recreation, to hopefully draw business into Sidney; trail development; improvements to Sidney Water Park, to create a renewed interest/increased attendance; a park development in the Stewart subdivision, for keeping with Sidney’s standard of a park within a half mile of every person; and the creation of a dog park, skate park and a disk golf course.

At the end of the parks and recreation presentation, Sidney resident Jan Helman voiced her concern over the public use of a sludge-pit area of land Sidney bought from her husband near Tawawa Park. She said she has seen several people using the path and doesn’t think people know what the area is because there are no signs posted. Sidney Utilities Director told her the city is currently preparing new signage, and typically there is four to six “Do Not Enter” signs posted, but they were recently removed during sludge removal.

Council also adopted an ordinance for assessments of weed cutting or junk/litter removal costs for outstanding invoices through Feb. 7, 2017, for property owners not in-compliance with the city code. For junk removal, the invoice equals the cost of the work plus 20 percent. For weed cutting, property owners were invoiced the cost of the work plus $50 for the first cutting, $75 for the second and $100 for each cutting afterward.

A total of $3,077.50 of special assessment will be collected with other tax property obligations from 26 properties for weed cutting, and $3,061.20 for the junk removal of 16 properties.

Council was introduced to an ordinance for the adoption of the city’s purchasing card policy. Finance Officer Ginger Adams presented the policy that included the change of adding cardholders’ names, titles and credit limits. An appendix was added to the policy document containing the information, as they know it may change over time.

Council also adopted eight resolutions, and they are:

• To rescind the resolution adopted on Oct. 13, 2014, which granted Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) consent to remove and replace deficient structures situated within the city. Due to statewide funding cuts, ODOT canceled the project and consent from the city is no longer needed.

• To authorize the reappointment of Mary Jannides to the recreation board for a new five-year term that expires on April 1, 2022. Jannides has been a member of the recreation board since 1972.

• For the ratification of City Manager Mark Cundiff’s execution of a one-year agreement for the purchase of natural gas for Sidney’s natural gas aggregation program.

Cundiff told council that contract will be at the rate of $0.423 per hundred cubic feet (CCF) of natural gas, and although this rate is higher than the current rate ($0.3898/CCF), it is a lower rate than when AGE first contacted him. Also, he said, it is lower than current winter rates of $0.48 to 0.54/CCF. Cundiff said after this one year contract expires, they will bid as part of 20 communities to negotiate a new three year contract for “hopefully another good rate.”

• To authorize the city manager to enter into a special event use agreement with Raise The Roof for the Arts for use of Sidney property in the parking lot of the Ohio Building during the upcoming outdoor concert series on the June 24, July 29 and Aug. 26;

• To accept the Frantz replat of lot 6920, which is the replat of one lot to create two new lots at the southern terminus of University Drive and west of Doorley Road in the single family and multi-family residence districts;

• To authorize the city manager to enter into a development agreement pertaining to the re-plat of lot 6920. This agreement allows the construction of a single family residence that requires the city engineering standard of a right of way at University Drive, an intersection at the existing Doorely Road and/or the development of a cul-de-sac.

• To authorize the city manager to enter into a three year collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters, Local 912. Some of the changes in the agreement are for all new firefighters to maintain a paramedic license for their entire career with Sidney and for a 2 percent wage increase for the years 2017-2019, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2017. For further details, see the story on the agreement published in the paper on March 25.

• To authorize payment to the office of the Shelby County prosecuting attorney for a substitute prosecuting attorney’s services during the temporary absence of the law director at the rate of $55 per hour.

In addition, council went into an executive session for the employment of a public employee, to consider the purchase of property for public purposes and for pending or imminent court action. Council took no action when they emerged.

By Sheryl Roadcap

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4823.

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