Board also clarifies policy banning cannabis possession, use on county property

By Melanie Stegner

news@pctribune.com

A request was brought before the Pope County Board of Commissioners by the Pope County Sheriff at last week’s meeting to declare the extreme wind events from July 25 a local state of emergency. Agralite Cooperative notified the Emergency Management office of damage in excess of $40,000 due to the event. By declaring the state of emergency, state relief funds may be available for the repairs in the county.

A Conditional Use Permit application was presented by David Green, Land and Resource Office Director, on behalf of Marvin Sandvig seeking approval to locate and operate a motor vehicle repair shop on his property in Lake Johanna Township. The site has a history of being used as a motor vehicle salvage site that was unpermitted but predated the adoption of county-wide zoning giving the owner permission to continue the use without expansion. 

At the time of the adoption of the ordinance there were approximately 150 vehicles on the site. With the operation of a motor vehicle repair shop on site, there is expectations that there will be more vehicles waiting repair or to be picked up by the owner. These vehicles should be properly registered and licensed which should serve to differentiate between land uses.

The Planning Advisory Commission recommended approval of the land use request with a 4-2 vote. At the time of the PAC meeting, the applicant didn’t have township permitting and some of the waste disposal information was unclear. Since that time, the permit was granted and the waste disposal information as provided.

The Facilities Committee approached the board with a need for painting the public corridor and communal area portions of the courthouse. Quotes were obtained from several willing and qualified vendors. The low bid from Gunion Painting of Waite Park was awarded.

The board heard and accepted updates to the personnel management policy section for tobacco, drug and alcohol regulations. After the new laws were enacted permitting recreational cannabis/marijuana products, the committee was prompted to update the policy. 

The policy update clarified that while the products are legal in general, much like alcohol or tobacco products, the rules related to impairment, intoxication, possession and the like related to cannabis also apply to county work and property, analogous to the rules that apply to alcohol. The new policy clarifies that use and possession of such products in the workplace or on county grounds is prohibited along with workplace impairment or intoxication from the effect of such use.

Trish Sheehan, District Director with the University of Minnesota Extension presented her budget request for 2024 from county funds as well as the execution of the Memorandum of Agreement for additional office support during fair season. 

Following a review of the financial information, the board continued to hear appropriation requests from the technology, probation and highway departments. The requests are part of the preliminary budgeting discussions.  

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 5 in the third floor boardroom of the courthouse.