Eli Pace / epace@skyhinews.com
Aside from picking three town council members this April, Kremmling residents will also be asked to vote whether to lift the town’s moratorium against cannabis businesses and allow the town to move forward with an ordinance.
At the Jan. 22 town council meeting, council members agreed that they wanted to get public opinion about allowing cannabis businesses to operate in town before figuring out any details of what that might look like.
“(The public) should instruct us do you or do you not want the town of Kremmling to move forward with the creation and adoption of an ordinance to allow the retail sale of a cannabis product,” Council Member Erik Woog said.
Following the outcome of the April ballot question, council members would craft an ordinance outlining what would be legal and illegal for cannabis businesses in Kremmling with public input.
Kremmling Town Manager Dan Stoltman explained the ordinance would detail what kinds of businesses would be legal, such as dispensaries or groweries, where and when the businesses could operate in town and what kinds of products they could offer, among other regulations.
Council members were adamant that those decisions should be made with public input and not before a ballot question.
“We really wanted to engage (the public), so the first thing is do you want this or not,” Woog said. “Then, once they say yes, then we get together and figure out exactly what that looks like.”
Council members are expected to approve the language of a ballot question at their February meeting.
In other business…
- Stoltman updated the council on the Kremmling Police Department, which has contracted with two former officers – David Lawley and Robert Bowen – to help cover a few shifts per week.
- During public comment, a town resident raised concerns about the inconsistent trash pick-up in Kremmling. Stoltman explained the town recently contracted with Ranch Creek Waste after Aces High was bought out by Waste Management and would no longer service the town. Ranch Creek Waste inherited its equipment from Aces High and initially had mechanical issues, but those have since been fixed, according to Stoltman. He added that Ranch Creek Waste will be at the February meeting to discuss how things have run so far. Council members also encouraged residents to call the town when they experience issues with trash pick up so the town is aware of who is being impacted.
- The town council also approved a special event liquor license for the Middle Park Fair and Rodeo to offer alcohol at the skijoring event on Feb. 29.