The Two Harbors City Council is in the process of formalizing the language for how cannabis businesses will be regulated within the city limits. Council members have been reviewing a number of proposed ordinances related to licensing and operation and will have met to ask questions and make recommendations by the time this article reaches the press. Specific recommendations from the Council will define how the city will deal with multiple applications for licensure and will give parameters for the hours per day that cannabis businesses can operate. Attorney Timothy Costly has suggested that city officials devise a lottery system to decide who will get a license. He also suggested that council members consider following whatever the current ordinance is concerning the hours of operation for the municipal liquor store. Stay tuned for updates.
A public hearing was also held at last week’s meeting to give area residents an opportunity to be part of the discussion around the 2023 Sidewalk Improvement project and the related property owner assessment. Finance Director Miranda Pietila outlined the plan which was put on hold until this year at the contractor’s request. The scope of this work will include sidewalks along the south side of 11th Avenue between 6th and 8th streets and both sides of 10th Avenue from 10th to 8th street. The total cost for this work is $139,290.74. The city’s portion of this cost is $114,344.74 which leaves $24,950.00 to be assessed. Assessment notices have been mailed out to the benefiting property owners. Payment can be made to the city, in total, by December 31st with no interest rate. Payments not submitted by the end of December will be certified to Lake County and will be added to the benefiting property owner’s property tax bill starting in 2025. A yearly interest rate of 2.5% will be added to the assessment, with payment spread out over the next 5 years. The Council voted to adopt the assessment role.
In other business, the Council approved plans for the city portion of the 2025 Seal Coat Project. The plan will be submitted to Lake County for inclusion in the bidding process. The Council also approved a proposal to repave approximately 600 feet of the walking trail that is falling into disrepair, beyond the boundaries of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The next Two Harbors Council meeting is scheduled for November 25th at 5:00 PM.
