By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

Glenwood City Commissioners approved a permit for an event called Pope County Shoppers Delight at the Pope County Fairgrounds set for three days during Glenwood’s Waterama on July 26, 27 and 28 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The commission tabled the request for the permit at its last meeting in June because the Waterama Board objected to the event being held during Waterama.  

The event is a vendor show and fundraiser for the Pope County Fair and will be done on Ag Society property, it was stated.

Last month, the city tabled the request to allow the Waterama Board and the Ag. Society to further discuss the event.

“It’s my understanding that the two groups have come to an agreement on the issue,” City Administrator Dave Iverson told the commission.  That agreement included that there would be no food trucks at the event and that the Ag Society provide signage that “says the event is not affiliated with Waterama,” Iverson explained.

Commissioner Mavis Pattee moved to approve the permit with the understanding that there would be no food trucks and that signage be erected stating that the event is a fundraiser for the Pope County Fair or the Ag Society.  Commissioner Neil Haynes second the motion and it carried on a 4-0 vote with Commissioner Brent Cochran absent. 

The Ag Society Shoppers Delight event is expected to feature about 30 vendors and attract 300-400 people, according to Ryan Kvam, who is the contact for the Pope County Ag Society.

In other business, the Commission:

• Accepted the stocking and selling of hemp derived cannabinoid beverages at The Grog Shop, a city managed liquor store in Glenwood. The hemp derived beverages will be stocked and sold at The Grog Shop beginning July 10.  Selling the hemp derived beverages is within the state law a number of other entities within Pope County are already selling the beverages.  Before the commission voted on the issue, Iverson asked if there were any concerns.  He pointed out that because they are hemp-derived, the beverage sales do not fall under the current moratorium placed by the Pope County Board on Cannabis sales, Iverson said.  City Attorney Troy Nelson added that he had no issues with the beverage sales.  The commission approved the motion to allow the stocking and selling of the beverages.

•Rescheduled the Tuesday, Aug. 13 regular city commission meeting to Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m.  The reason for moving the meeting was because of the Aug. 13 primary election.