Cannabis and budgets on Kandiyohi County Board agenda for Dec. 3, 2024 – West Central Tribune

WILLMAR

— The

Kandiyohi County Board

has a busy Tuesday ahead it, with a loaded agenda set for its Dec. 3 meeting, which will be held later in the day instead of its normal morning start time.

The board will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the board chambers of the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services building. The time change was made due to the annual Truth-in-Taxation hearing, which by law, cannot begin until at least 6 p.m. Instead of meeting twice, the board will hold its regular meeting immediately before the tax and budget hearing.

First up on the agenda will be the public hearing for the county’s new cannabis ordinance, which will provide the regulations and rules for registering businesses that will sell cannabis and lower-potency hemp edibles as well as cannabis uses in the county.

The County Board held a

Nov. 5 work session to discuss the ordinance

. Based on that work session, the proposed ordinance to be presented at Tuesday’s meeting includes changes to setback requirements, how businesses will verify the age of potential customers and amendments to the penalties and prosecution portions of the agenda.

The public will be allowed to speak during the public hearing, to give their thoughts and comments about the ordinance. Following the public hearing, the board can decided to approve the ordinance, which is being recommended by Kandiyohi County Public Health. The County Board will also approve the registration fee schedule for the new businesses.

The Kandiyohi County Fair Board is scheduled to give the annual report and update at the meeting. The report had been scheduled for the Nov. 19 meeting, but the representative of the fair board had been unable to attend.

Sheriff Eric Tollefson will present the annual report from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office. There is also board action requested on a memorandum of understanding with county deputies and correctional officers regarding changes to work hours and a request to increase the jail boarding rate fee needing board action.

Also on the agenda are a report on assessment corrections, final payment for a seal coat project and a cooperative agreement between the county Community Corrections and the 8th Judicial District Treatment Court.

The County Board will also discuss how to spend its remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds since the Dec. 31 deadline is approaching.

At 6 p.m., the board will open the annual Truth-in-Taxation hearing. A presentation on the

county’s 2025 budget and tax levy

will be given. There are two levy options available for the commissioners. The first is a 8.5% increase, which does not use any county reserves or a 7.6% increase that uses almost $4 million in reserves.

The hearing is not for residents to dispute valuation of property. Assessing staff will be on hand to set up meeting times with property owners with concerns.

The complete meeting agenda and accompanying materials can be viewed online at

kcmn.civicweb.net.

Shelby Lindrud is a reporter with the West Central Tribune of Willmar. Her focus areas are arts and entertainment, agriculture, features writing and the Kandiyohi County Board.

She can be reached via email slindrud@wctrib.com or direct 320-214-4373.

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