Marijuana law discussion continues at town council

At Monday night’s town council meeting, the Odessa Planning Commission submitted a report on its review of the town’s zoning with regard to Washington’s new law permitting marijuana use (state initiate 502). It was noted that the state has been in the process of developing regulations defining and controlling the industry, so the commission saw no need to go beyond what the state has already done. Regulations pertaining to business sites, building size, etc., commissioners reported, are already defined within Odessa’s building codes.

The commission approved an amendment to zoning ordinance 519 to includes the state’s following definitions:

Marijuana producer: produces marijuana for sale at wholesale to marijuana processors and allows for production, possession, delivery, distribution.

Marijuana processor: processes, packages and labels marijuana/marijuana-infused product for sale at wholesale to marijuana retailers and allows for processing, packaging, possession, delivery, distribution.

Marijuana retailer: allows for sale of usable marijuana/marijuana-infused products at retail outlets regulated aby the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

With respect to locating any of the three entities defined above within the town limits of Odessa, the commission cited state guidelines as stating that no such entity could “set up a store within 1,000 feet of any elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center or facility, child-care center, public park, public transit center, library or game arcade that allows minors to enter.”

Therefore, the only areas that the commission found could be considered for a conditional-use permit to operate would be at the far east end of town near the Walter Implement facility or within the northwest corner of town near the Grange Supply Company or the former Water West building. That area is zoned for commercial use, although there are currently also six residences located within it. Commissioners agreed that no conditional-use permits would be granted for concurrent use of any building as both a residence and a marijuana-related business.

Commercial kitchen

Lindsy Starkel asked the council to form a committee to include herself and at least two council members to come up with an agreement on how much to charge for use of the newly installed commercial kitchen and/or the community center for events and how to divde the income between the town and the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. Both entities will need to consider charges that will cover the costs of utilities, maintenance, wear and tear, etc., while at the same time allowing and encouraging use by members of the community, potential new businesses and the like, Starkel said.

Starkel also assured the council that all Chamber income from rental of the kitchen would be kept in a separate fund (not the general fund), and its use would be mandated solely for maintaining and upgrading the kitchen itself and the equipment contained therein.

Councilwoman Lois Hubbard volunteered to serve on the committee, and plans were also to ask her colleague Lois Harp (who was not present at the meeting) to join.

Resolution 2013-9

Mayor Doug Plinski asked the council to approve a resolution allowing the town to apply for a Rural Community Assistance Corporation loan, should it become necessary, in the amount of $50,000 to cover the cost of replacing the water main beneath Fifth Ave? when the street is recontructed and repaved. The town has already received two grants to cover the road work, but Plinski wanted to ensure that replacement of the water main is completed at the same time. The water main is very old, and replacing it now would save the time and expense of having to tear the road up once it fails at some point in the future, Plinski said. Plinski also said that he thought the town had enough funding to replace the water main without the loan but wanted to have the ability to apply for it just in case.

Fire Department

Town fire chief Don Strebeck reported that open burning is allowed now through October 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. He emphasized that no leaves or grass be burned, only branches and brush, because the former create too much smoke. He requested that anyone wanting to burn their brush piles call him (at 988-0433) prior to burning, so that he is aware of what is a controlled burn and what might be an emergency needing the department’s attention.

Police Department

Officer Bryce Peterson reported that Fest-related calls were down a bit this year and that no major incidents occurred. There were, however, several trespassing calls, ambulance assists and domestic-violence calls and one residential burglary case that has already been solved. Railroad personnel also complained that people were on or too close to the tracks, despite warning signs, and that, in at least one instance, rocks were thrown at a passing train.

Peterson added that he feels the number of incidents requiring police response in the Biergarten has fallen drastically ever since the Chamber hired a private security firm to be present in the Biergarten. It appeared that potential problems were being kept from escalating further, he said.

Council member reports

Councilman Frank White reported on his attendance at the most recent Quadco (four-county planning group) meeting, which focussed on transportation issues. Rail traffic had seen significant increases, he said, while road traffic also continues to increase. White said he also learned of grants which will be available for beautification and increased safety of downtown streets in small towns. He will provide more information as it becomes available.

Gravel pits

Mayor Plinski noted that gravel pits scattered around the town limits of Odessa have long been prone to illegal trespassing despite being posted. Some of the pits are owned by the Town of Odessa, others by the state of Washington and Lincoln County.

A citizen complained a few months ago that target shooting at the gravel pits was endangering the young children at a nearby farm. Evidence was found of bullet holes in some farm buildings, and the owner also witnessed an incident of a round hitting the property.

Plinski has been in touch with the other two governmental organizations about the problem. Some of the “No Trespassing” signs are very faded and should probably be replaced, he said. Local law enforcement has also been made aware of the problem.