CITY FINALIZES MEDICAL POT DISPENSARY BAN

Rieb casts sole 'no' vote on second reading

The Sterling city council voted 5-1 to keep medical marijuana
dispensaries out of the city. Tuesday's action was the second reading
for the city council.

Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Fuller, presiding over Tuesday's meeting, said the
issue of medical marijuana was hotly discussed at the Colorado
Municipal League meetings.

"I will say that at the CML Conference, this is one of the topics that
came up. Their time ran out before the questions ran out," Fuller said.

Fuller added that the move by council does not prevent a properly
licensed person from growing his or her own marijuana for medical
purposes, nor does it stop a patient from contracting with a licensed
caregiver.

It is not known how many people living in the Sterling this will
impact. City Manager Joe Kiolbasa said that the state was behind by
about 80,000 applications by the end of June.

The motion passed with Mayor Larry Fetzer absent and councilwoman
LeAnn Rieb voting against the motion.

The council also heard a proposal to fund a television set for the
Visitors Information Center. The television is proposed as a remote
information source for the center that can direct travelers to
downtown activities when the center is closed.

The proposal was brought before the council during the open comment
section of the meeting by Kim Sellers, director of the Logan County
Chamber of Commerce. Sellers said the television could be used to
broadcast the city's video, which by now is outdated, or could show a
PowerPoint of current activities.

Sellers presented the council with a proposal by KCI Communications to
install a 42-inch flat screen television on an articulating wall
mount, Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer, a set of VGA extenders and a
direct 120 electrical outlet, all installed for about $2,100.

Sellers added that the television could be used to promote information
that cannot be explained on the digital billboard. The television
would not have the same space limits as the sign does, she said.

Councilwoman Heather Delgado-Diaz said that while she likes the idea,
she is "not a fan of the price tag."

Ken Musgrave of KCI explained that managing a video from a computer
100 feet away, such as would be the case at the Visitors Center,
requires VGA extenders. Additionally, the cost includes
installation.

"If you want it done by us, that is what it is going to cost,"
Musgrave said. "It is non-negotiable."

Kiolbasa said funds can be found if the council chooses to support
it.

Mayor Pro-tem Mark Fuller says he likes the idea, but he doesn't want
the city to carry the bill alone. He said he is not against partnering
on the project.

"I like the idea, but I'm not in favor of 100 percent funding it,"
Fuller said.

Rocky Joy, Chamber president and city councilman, said the Chamber
approached the city partly because the chamber board felt the county
would not be as willing to fund a project that primarily promotes
Sterling activities.

No action was taken on the proposal.

The council also discussed ownership of the Christmas decorations. The
decorations hung by city staff on streets throughout downtown are
under the possession of the Chamber, though it has been questioned who
actually owns them. Sellers presented the idea of donating the
decorations to the city in exchange for the cost of utilities.

Delgado-Diaz asked if this also meant the Chamber is considering not
doing decorations throughout Sterling. Sellers said she would do the
will of the Chamber board, but doubts anyone wants to discontinue
decorating city streets. City manager Joe Kiolbasa said the Chamber
did a fundraiser about 10 years ago to purchase new lights and
decorations. He added that part of the current discussion is driven by
a need for a more permanent storage area. The decorations were stored
upstairs at the Key Bank building. When Key Bank moved their
operations to the smaller building and the corner building went on the
real estate market, the decorations were moved. The owner of the
current storage area has made it clear the situation is only
temporary, according to Kiolbasa.

Action was tabled with 5-0-1, with Fetzer absent and councilman Rocky
Joy abstaining because he is the Chamber board president.