Kris Stach speaking on behalf of his business and Sugar High. (City of Fergus Falls YouTube)
Fergus Falls, MN – After over an hour of discussion and debate at this week’s City Council Meeting, Sugar High and Elevate have made it to the next step on their way to selling full, legal cannabis.
At the previous Committee of the Whole on April 30th, Councilmember Scott Rachels stated that he wished to rescind the votes the council made that turned down the interim use permits (IUP’s) for these companies for being too close to potential kids’ attractions. Councilmember Rachels brought this proposal to Monday night’s meeting, saying that after looking back at previous meetings and discussions about the zoning ordinances in question, he felt that the companies did fit the criteria as discussed by last year’s council. He said, “After sitting back and thinking of all this; I was wrong. They followed every rule that we set, every ordinance we set out. And Mr. Mortenson didn’t think it was right, and that’s his opinion, but I was wrong.”
In a vote of 5-4, with Mayor Anthony Hicks breaking the tie, the original votes that struck down the IUP’s were rescinded, and with that, both permits were back up for discussion. Once the motions were made, Councilmember Mortenson had a new concern. While conditions for these permits require the permission of any neighbors above the businesses to give written consent that the business is okay to move in, Mortenson raised concerns for neighboring businesses that share an adjacent wall, like Midwest Printing, and felt that Sugar High and Elevate should have their consent as well.
After back and forth discussion between the council, the public was encouraged to speak, and many did, with multiple speaking in support of Sugar High and Elevate, and a few speaking against them.
While some residents and councilmembers referred to the debate as an issue on distances, City Administrator Andrew Bremseth reminded all those in attendance that is not the issue, saying, “The distances are irrelevant if these sites don’t have an attraction that is aimed towards children within them. The distances don’t mean a thing; it’s definition. Does this council feel the definition of attraction for children meets these two sites?”
Owner of Sugar High Emily McCune said that despite the fight for cannabis being over, she feels like the councilmembers are using their personal opinion on the substance to make these zoning decisions, “This is an unnecessary delay in a rapidly approaching industry. We are poised, and we are ready.”
Kris Stach, co-owner of Elevate, spoke to the concerns that Spies Park could be considered a kid’s attraction, saying, “They sell beer down there all the time and that isn’t talked about, so how do you say that’s a children’s attraction and allow beer to be sold at that children’s attraction?”
Kevin Anderson, owner of Midwest Printing, said that while he is not against people being in favor of cannabis, he is against it being next to his business, saying, “We’re very concerned about this and it needs to be moved to a different spot, other than where they’re proposing.”
By the end of the nearly 69 minute discussion, both businesses’ interim use permits were approved. Sugar High received yes votes from councilmembers Rachels, Kilde, Fish, and Job, and no votes from councilmembers Kremeier, Mortenson, Kvamme, and Leighton, with Mayor Hicks breaking the tie (5-4). Elevate received yes votes from councilmembers Rachels, Kilde, Fish, Job, and Kvamme, and no votes from Kremeier, Mortenson, and Leighton (5-3).
The companies now await the results of the State’s cannabis license lottery on June 5th.
