Pubdate: Fri, 16 Jul 2010
Source: Fort Morgan Times, The (CO)
Copyright: 2010 The Fort Morgan Times
Contact: 
http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/Stories/0,1413,164%257E8355%257E,00.html
Website: http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2115
Author: John La Porte

LOG LANE SAYS NO TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Town Board Votes Instead Of Sending Issue To Election

Log Lane Village's Board of Trustees voted Wednesday not to allow
medical marijuana centers within its boundaries.

Carl McGuire, attorney for the town, had recommended sending the issue
to a vote of the people. It could be placed on the ballot for the
general election in November, he said, saving the town the expense of
a special election.

Putting the issue on the November ballot would put off any initiative
or referendum for a year or two, McGuire indicated.

Any initiative or referendum on the issue could be placed on the
municipal election ballot in April 2011, it was noted.

Bert Brown, a former trustee who was in the audience Wednesday, said
that he did not see why the board could not make the decision.

Trustee Paul Vowell and Mayor Bud Anderson agreed.

"That's why we were elected," Voewll said.

Vowell also said he would take a bet that an initiative or referendum
to allow medical marijuana centers in Log Lane would not pass.

The board's vote to disallow medical marijuana centers in Log Lane was
unanimous.

This week Brush's city council passed the first of three required
readings to extend a moratorium on medical marijuana centers in Brush.

The board also received good news from auditor Tim Mayberry of
Johnson, Holscher and Co. of Centennial.

For the first time in several years, the general fund had a positive
balance at the end of 2009. In recent years there had been deficits of
up to $35,000, and past boards had to dip into water and sewer funds.

The general fund equity was listed at $140,150.

Mayberry attributed the upswing to the town board cutting expenses and
to some staff vacancies over the course of the year.

The water and sewer funds now have enough money to meet state and
federal guidelines, the auditor said -- prior to a rate hike, that had
been a problem.

Mayberry noted that some things had been left undone and that there
would be maintenance and upkeep expenses in several areas.

The board discussed one such item Wednesday -- the need for a new
heavy-duty pickup truck for public works. The matter was tabled for a
work session.

Anderson said he had received an estimate of $26,000 from a dealer in
the Denver area.

Funding for the truck could be shared among general, water and sewer
funds, the board and Mayberry said, because the pickup is used for
work in all of those areas.

Bids are also being sought for lighting for public works and police
department offices and for trimming trees in the community park, and
the purchase of a bicycle rack for the park for up to $170 was
authorized Wednesday.

The board also approved a three-tier spending system -- employees
could spend up to $200 on items without prior approval, would need
approval from two board members for expenditures of $200 to $500 and
would need full board approval for anything above $500.

The board also discussed limiting pets to three dogs and three cats
per household. Those with higher numbers would be "grandfathered in"
to allow for the existing pets.

Pet licensing fees could be tiered to give a price break to people
whose pets are spayed or neutered, McGuire said.

Town Marshal David Ochs suggested requiring kennel licenses for those
with high numbers of pets. That way, he said, the humane society and
Colorado Department of Health could be involved.

The board also indicated that Ochs was considering resigning; no
reason was given. Part-time police officer Cindy Cook has resigned to
take a position with the Colorado Department of Corrections.

No action was taken on a proposal from a resident to allow dogs in the
town park; the current prohibition on that remains in place.

Trustees expressed concerns about safety with too many children in the
park to allow dogs, and that some people would not clean up after
their pets. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D