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Stacy City Council met June 11 for a regular meeting, all members were present.  

The council opened the meeting with discussion about a possible ordinance regarding cannabis in public spaces.  Mayor Mark Utecht told the council he would like to take no action on the matter.  Council member Carolyn Cagle added she would like to have at least a policy adding “If we don’t allow alcohol in our parks, we shouldn’t allow cannabis.”  Utecht told the council the main reason alcohol is not permitted is because many of the main events held at the parks have alcohol available from the Stacy Lions Club.  Attorney James Monge told the council that other communities are split evenly in regards to having cannabis ordinances and not.  Council member Jeff Barrett said he agreed with Cagle and while it may be hard to enforce, policy says something about the city’s morals.  council member Dennis Thieling told the council he would like to see cannabis banned from all city property.  Utecht asked the council “How do we decide if it is a cannabis gummy or a Haribo gummy?”  

“Do we send it to a lab and get it tested?, what will that cost the city?” Utecht asked.

The council then agreed to pass the ordinance prohibiting cannabis use within certain public properties including ball fields, city parks, or sport field property.  The vote in favor of the ordinance passed 3-2 with Utecht and Tim Sawatzky voting against. The ordinance will voted on for final approval at  the next council meeting.p

The council then discussed  a liquor license and a beer garden proposal for a RibFest event at the A-1 Tire location on September 21.  The original map for alcohol consumption included the entire parking lot.  Mayor Utecht told the council a beer garden has to be separated from any motorized vehicles.  A representative from the Stacy Lions Club told the council he would regenerate a new layout map with a separate beer corral and have it submitted for the next meeting.

In the engineer’s report, engineer Dan Boyum was asked about a bid from Valley Paving for mill and overlay for parts of 352nd, 340th, Erie Lane, and Fern Trail.  The bid was for $228,166.60 which triggers the city requirements of over $175K requires sealed bids. Utecht told the council he, “Didn’t trust this quote as far as he can throw it”.   Utecht told the new council members the city “has gotten bit” in the past with another paving company that didn’t perform the correct soil bearings and a significant amount of extra work was required which was billed to the city.  Maintenance supervisor Troy Olson told the council that they need to clarify what type of road they want prior to reaching out for bids.  “If you want a 9 ton road, then you have to tell me so we can request that from the contractors” Olson said.  

The council agreed to convey what road strengths they desire in the future to both Olson and Boyum prior to seeking bids.

The council granted a liquor license for Stacy Daze to the Stacy Lions Club.

The council then agreed to end scheduled staff hours at the town hall building. Staff will conduct day-to-day work at the Stacy City Hall building.

The city had a request from the Stacy Lions for an additional gambling permit for holding bingo at Doyle Fields.  The city currently has four gambling permits.  Mayor Utecht asked if the permit is being used at Station 17 Restaurant.  The council agreed to have an ordinance drawn up for the next meeting, to include Doyle Fields.

Resident and committee member Jim Ness told the council if they were creating a cannabis committee, they need to clarify what the committee is for.  Ness said the state’s plan is to classify commercial cannabis under greenhouses in Minnesota.  “Will the city require a Conditional Use permit for Cannabis greenhouses as it does for commercial greenhouses currently?” Ness then told the council they would need to decide where to allow a dispensary when a business applies for one.  “Commercial? Light industrial?” Ness asked.  Ness said that until “we know what the state is planning exactly, there really is no reason for a committee.”

The council then passed the purchase of a new mower for $16,400.  

The council also approved the upgrade of the pump for the lift station for $13,858.  Olson was instructed to ask the contractor if they were interested in purchasing the used pump. The council also asked Olson to get a quote for new catch baskets for all three lift stations as a preventative move.

Council then approved up to $515 for the removal of a tree in the right of way on Falcon Avenue.  

Council adjourned at 9:38 p.m.

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