MELFORT — Discussions have already started about regulating the location of cannabis stores in Melfort.
“Right now, we’re looking at a commercial space that would be a certain amount of distance away from schools, playgrounds, daycare centres,” said Coun. April Phillips, the chair of the community services committee, after the June 11 council meeting. “We don’t want it hidden, but we have to be very careful about where we’re putting it.”
The councillor said since those discussions happened before the winner of the Melfort cannabis store permit was announced and there hasn’t been a date set for legalization, the city hasn’t gotten into too many details.
“We didn’t want to prematurely change anything until we got more information.”
Now that Vancouver-based Hive has been announced as the winner, Phillips said the city is getting ready to move forward.
“At this point, we’re looking at if there’s any other amendments that need to be made before we start looking at the bylaw.”
Jean Paul Lim, the president of Hive, said in a letter to council he’s welcoming suggestions on where to locate his new business.
“I would like you to know that my team and I value the opinions of the community where we will do business and it is equally important to us to be engaged in the communities we serve professionally,” he said.
Phillips said Melfort will look at what other communities are doing as it develops a bylaw.
“It’s totally new ground and we’re just not sure how to approach it, but we want to do it right the first time.”
Time in lieu
The city’s management will now receive up to three days off to repay them for the times they work beyond their regular shift.
Melfort is one of only two cities in Saskatchewan that didn’t have such a policy.
Rick Lang, Melfort’s mayor, said it was time that his city matched what others were doing.
“I don’t see any problem with this whatsoever. It does recognize the extra effort that management puts in.”
Coun. Trent Mitchell agreed.
“I’ve seen you guys out on the weekends and going above and beyond, so I’m not against the concept of allocating a couple of extra days off.”
To ensure ease of administration, there is no banking system managers will use to earn the time off. Instead those days are just available for them to take off.
No airport fuel surcharge change
After reviewing a request from a spray plane operator to cut the fuel surcharge at the airport, the airport board has decided not to make changes.
Coun. Doug Terry, who’s on the airport board, said the fuel surcharge is the best way for the airport, located seven kilometres outside the city, to pay its bills.
“Some other airports in Saskatchewan will charge a landing fee and a takeoff fee in order to recover the costs of operation,” he said. “We’re not in a position to see people take off and landing, so the way we generate revenue to operate that airport is to put a surcharge on the fuel.”
