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FAIRMONT-- The Fairmont City Council meeting on Monday started with some housekeeping items brought forth by Mayor Deb Foster.
While those who speak during the public discussion/comment portion of the council meetings are asked to share their full names and addresses, Foster said that there's recently been harassment happening following that.
She said that anyone who speaks during Monday's meeting didn't need to publicly share their address, but could share with City Clerk Patty Monsen until the issue can be brought back to the next council meeting, where the council will correct its rule of procedure and conduct.
Foster also asked that council members shut off their cell phones during the council meetings.
"I'm very sorry to the community and those in attendance that I didn't see what happened at the last council meeting.... When I see a council member holding their phone up to the microphone, that is very concerning to me because I've asked numerous times for council members and people in attendance, please shut their phones off so there's no disturbances," Foster said.
Moving to agenda items, the council considered adopting an ordinance regulating the sale of certain edible and beverage products infused with THC products.
At the Sept. 26 council meeting, a public hearing was held pertaining to the proposed ordinance. At that time the council heard from several members of the public. It was back on Monday's meeting for adoption.
City Administrator Cathy Reynolds said staff had drafted an ordinance that would require businesses that want to sell products to license the premise, license must be at least 21 years of age, a licensed business cannot be within 300 feet of any school, park, public sports field, etc.
The ordinance also said THC products must be sold face-to-face and not through vending machines. There can also be no free samples or donations.
"We've looked through, vetted through this ordinance. While many communities have done moratoriums, other communities have done ordinances and I believe we're hitting on many of the same topics other communities are doing in looking at this," said Reynolds.
Council Member Randy Lubenow said that while he knows it fits into the same category as alcohol and tobacco, he said he's heard that THC products are something that older adults are purchasing for pain management as well.
The ordinance was unanimously adopted.
Later in the meeting, the council considered setting a license fee to sell THC products. Reynolds said that staff had evaluated the fees charges for other licenses in the city and determined that a $200 fee for a license would be appropriate.
Council Member Britney Kawecki asked what the fee was for selling alcohol or tobacco. Monsen said that that the fee per year for selling tobacco is $150 and that she believed that a full alcohol license fee was $2,400.
The council approved setting the fee at $200.
In other business:
-- The council approved a three year lease agreement with STEP Inc. for space inside the Southern Minnesota Educational Campus (SMEC).
-- City Engineer Troy Nemmers said that Allegiant, the contractor coming in to replace electric meters in all households within the city, has arrived and will begin work shortly.