By Melanie Stegner

Reporter

A public hearing will be held on April 2 at 9 a.m. regarding the intent to adopt three different public ordinances, it was decided at last week’s Pope County Board of Commissioners meeting. 

The use of cannabis in public places, regulating dangerous, at-large and nuisance animals, and repealing outdated provisions of the Pope County environmental health administrative ordinance are on the schedule for that hearing.

The intent of Ordinance 202402 regarding the use of cannabis in public places is to limit the use of cannabis in areas such as a public park or tail, street or sidewalk, any enclose or indoor area used by the general public which includes theaters, restaurants, bars, food establishments, places licensed to sell intoxication liquor, wine or malt beverages, retail businesses, gyms, common areas in buildings, public shopping areas, auditoriums, arenas and other places of public accommodation. 

A public place or place of public accommodation does not include a private residence including an individual’s yard, a private property not generally accessible by the public unless the individual is explicitly prohibited from consuming cannabis flower, products, lower-potency hemp edibles or hemp-derived consumer products on the property by the owner of the property or on the premises of an establishment or event licensed to permit on-site consumption. 

The ordinance prohibits use in public areas as well as certain uses prohibited in the presence of a minor. It states that no person shall vaporize or smoke cannabis flower, cannabis products, artificially derived cannabinoids or hemp-derived consumer products in any location where the smoke, aerosol or vapor would be inhaled by a minor.

Violations of the ordinance is considered a petty misdemeanor and has a maximum penalty currently of an imposed fine not to exceed $300. 

Ordinance 202403 addresses the regulation of dangerous, at-large and nuisance animals. According to the draft ordinance, a dangerous dog is defined as any dog that has without provocation inflicted substantial bodily harm on a human being on public or private property, killed a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner’s property, or been found to be potentially dangerous and after the owner has notice that the dog is potentially dangerous, the dog aggressively bites, attacks or threatens and endangers the safety of humans or domestic animals. Domestic animals are defined as a horse, pony, mule, donkey, llama, alpaca, cattle, swine, sheep, goat or other domestic animal or domestic fowl of any type.

An at-large animal is an animal that is running on public or private property not belonging to or leased by the owner while not confined in an appropriate enclosure or fenced area. 

The ordinance is intended to make the owner of any animal that permits a dangerous dog, prohibited animal or domestic animal running at-large responsible for their animal. An animal that is determined to be dangerous may be destroyed. 

The ordinance addresses animals disturbing the peace, the waste control on the property of another and near public property. The penalty for persons violating the ordinance is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a maximum term of 90 days in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000. 

The third ordinance draft, 202404 is set to repeal outdated provisions of the Pope County Environmental Health from ordinance number 201001. 

In other business, the highway department administrative team is advertising to fill two positions. That of an engineering technician and a mechanic. Three project bids will be opening on March 12th within the engineering department including a gravel crushing and stockpile project, a culvert replacement project on CSAH 8, and a final surfacing on CSAH 15. Previously approved equipment in the 2024 budget was approved for purchase including an excavator and a trailer.

A request from Deputy Brian Klassen was approved for him to attend the ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) conference in Atlanta in June. The Minnesota BCA is covering the cost of the conference and room and board, so the county is only responsible for the deputy’s meals and wages.

A position within the sheriff’s department was changed from a part-time position to a full-time position. “Now that court proceedings are moving back to in-person hearings, we would like to make the bailiff and court transport a full-time position to accommodate the number of hours required,” stated Sheriff Riley. “This will put our scheduling back to where it was pre-pandemic which was working well and will give each deputy a partner for immediate backup.”

The Land and Resource Management office was given the authority to administer the Wetland Conservation Act. 

An interim use permit was approved for Viking Community Solar in Glenwood Township to locate and construct an 830-kilowatt solar facility on property owned by Minnerath Investments. The site is currently zoned non-intensive agriculture. Most recently the site was excavated for mineral resources. It’s approximately nine acres and roughly 30 percent of the property is used in an agricultural manner. The board approved the IUP unanimously.

A conditional use permit was approved for Jami Knoblauch to construct a non-farm residence in an agricultural protection zone. The board passed the CUP unanimously.

The board also approved the audit engagement agreement with the state auditor’s office, the renewed the enterprise software licensing agreement with ESRI, and raised the gopher bounty from $2.25 to $3.

The next meeting of the board will be a work session on Tuesday, March 12 at 9 a.m. in the third-floor meeting room.