Board discusses possible marijuana regulations

WALNUT — The Walnut Village Board continued its discussion Sept. 3 of the Jan. 1, 2020, marijuana legalization within Illinois.

As the board had heard from the village attorney, the village has three choices regarding the handling of future dispensaries within the village. Those choices are, do nothing to regulate the sale, pass ordinances to control the location of a possible future dispensary or totally ban the sale of marijuana by a dispensary within the village.

The board has not, thus far, reached an agreement on how to proceed. The possibility of a dispensary within the village is not anticipated for any time in the near future, but the board feels that a decision should be made on one of the three choices before being put in the position that a dispensary would, in the future, be granted a license.

This subject will again be on the agenda for the next meeting with the hope that some of the neighboring larger communities will have enacted ordinances and the village might have a better idea on how it should proceed.

Board President Dennis Grobe stated that the garbage collection company, Republic Services, will be changing the garbage pickup day from Friday to Thursday. This will be effective the first week of October with that week’s collection day being Thursday and that will be the scheduled day going forward.

Police Chief Kevin Cox reported that Scott Carlson has been hired as an additional part-time officer. Carlson had been employed by the village approximately 10 years ago in that same capacity. His first day of employment was Sept. 3, and he spent that shift riding with the other part-time officer, Jeremy Roush.

The board approved the removal of a dead tree on Church Street that is hanging into the power lines. Guither Tree Service will be removing the tree at a cost of $900.

Board member John Middleton will be contacting the other members of the water and sewer committee to arrange a meeting of that group before Oct. 1.

Middleton also reminded the board that the Walnut Fall Fest will be Friday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 5.