OAK CREEK NEIGHBOR CONCERNED ABOUT STRONG MARIJUANA ODOR

Steamboat Springs -- The town of Oak Creek is taking a closer look at
the odor from a medical marijuana processing facility after a resident
and former Planning Com -mission member complained that the filters on
the plant were not working.

Skyler Hartman and Joe Mc - -Intyre III took over Chan Zwanzig's
building at 240 S. Arthur St. after the Oak Creek Town Board approved
the business in July.

Since that time, there haven't been any complaints until a recent Oak
Creek Town Board meeting, Mayor Nikki Knoebel said.

"That was the first time we had heard anything about that," she
said.

She said she encourages residents to contact the town by letter or
e-mail before issues become contentious.

At the meeting, Jackie Brown, who lives near the former kayak factory
used as a growing space, said she was upset that she could smell the
marijuana once a week. The operators agreed to use filters to keep any
smell from the marijuana from escaping, and Knoebel said the town
could impose fines if those regulations were not met.

Reached Wednesday, Brown said her temporary anger was based on
conflicting feelings about the business.

"I'm angry because I feel like Oak Creek, as well as other Colorado
communities, are trying to navigate the waters we don't have the
education and experience to navigate," she said. "I'm not against
medical marijuana, but I really don't know how I feel, and that's
upsetting to me."

Knoebel said she would ask Oak Creek Public Works Director Bob
Redding, who was out of town when the issue was first raised, and Oak
Creek Police Department Chief Ad - -ministrative Officer Lance Dunaway
to look into the issue.

Brown said she's sure things will work out.

"I think that the person operating the business aE& has a great work
ethic. I think he must have a successful business, I think he must
know how to take care of the problems that arise with this, and I
guess all I can do is trust that it can happen, that things will be
dealt with appropriately and responsibly," she said. "I believe that
it will."

Knoebel said the town has not had any other complaints about that
business or Mary's, the medical marijuana dispensary in town.

Zwanzig, who also was at the Town Board meeting, said he passed the
concerns along to his tenants, who said they would talk to Brown.
McIntyre and Hart - -man could not be reached Wednesday despite
messages passed through Zwanzig.