Every month, members of the Lowell City Council sit down to have a cup of coffee and chat with people about whatever is on their minds.
This past weekend, four out of five councilmembers – Greg Canfield, Jim Hodges, Jeff Phillips and Alan Teelander – were on hand to meet and greet the public. The conversation included the Showboat, how the sign ordinance is enforced and whether city officials would be open to having a medical marijuana dispensary in town.
Requested: A Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Lowell
Among those attending Coffee with Council were two individuals looking for feedback on the possibility of opening a medical marijuana dispensary in the city.
Under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act of 2016, people can obtain a license from the state to operate a dispensary. However, a license will only be granted if the local community has passed an ordinance allowing dispensaries within its boundaries. One of the men inquiring into the possibility of an ordinance is a resident of Ionia and told Lowell’s First Look it was his understanding Chief Steve Bukala had previously reviewed the issue. However, he wasn’t sure how carefully it was considered.
The second person, a resident of Plainfield Township, said a dispensary could be beneficial to other local businesses. He noted his township had previously had dispensaries which shut down. “Local business owners are upset that those dispensaries were closed because it reduced business,” he said.
Council members did not dismiss the idea and some sounded supportive. “I’m pretty favorable toward legalization [of marijuana],” said Mayor Pro Tem Teelander. “We don’t want to be backward. We want to be forward.”
Meanwhile, Councilmember Phillips suggested the two men work on educating the public and business owners about the potential benefits of a dispensary. Councilmember Hodges added that issues such as security and location would need to be addressed.
The two men were encouraged to attend a City Council meeting and make a formal request for the consideration of the ordinance. It was also suggested they check with the Planning Commission regarding any potential zoning issues.
Showboat Plans May be Evolving
The Showboat was another topic of discussion at Coffee with Council. Apparently, there is a question about whether the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will allow piers to be placed into the river to support the permanent structure proposed by the Rebuild the Showboat Committee.
“I hear they did recently look back at bringing in a boat again,” Councilmember Canfield said of the committee. Replacing the Showboat with a permanent structure had been the favored plan because of its longer lifespan, reduced maintenance costs and greater flexibility. However, if the DEQ won’t authorize its construction than buying or building a new boat may be the only option.
Councilmembers said they have heard some communities have riverboats that include restrooms, heat and other features that were considered benefits of a permanent structure. Plus, a boat would be significantly less expensive. The cost for a new boat may be in the $250,000-$300,000 range compared to the approximately $1.5 million price tag for a permanent structure.
Teelander mentioned there will be a meeting on Wednesday May 17th at 5pm in the Chamber office to discuss the Showboat plans further.
Enforcing the Sign Ordinance
A couple in attendance brought up the issue of the aesthetics of the community, particularly the appearance of signs along the roadways. They noted the large number of signs for garage sales, sports sign-ups and employment opportunities.
When told the signs were in violation of the ordinance but were typically only addressed on a complaint-basis by the police department, council members were told, “We’ve complained. There’s no action.”
Teelander suggested the next step would be to take the issue to the city manager. “Complain to the city manager,” he said. “He can put it on the agenda.”
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