Businessman wants to open medical pot dispensary

ST. MARYS - A local businessman hopes to open a medical marijuana dispensary, he and his grandson told city council members on Monday night.

The presentation was made by Dakota Knous, speaking on behalf of his grandfather Charlie Knous, who owns C & C Loft and Lounge.

"I think we've got a cause for it, and my grandson Dakota has been researching it," Charlie Knous said.

Dakota Knous is a Memorial High School graduate who is scheduled to graduate from Bowling Green State University in May with a Bachelor of Applied Health and Science degree. He plans to apply for graduate school at the University of Toledo next fall.

Charlie Knous plans to apply for a state license next month and asked for council's support in seeking an Ohio Department of Pharmacy license. Dakota Knous said one license will be granted for the district that includes Auglaize, Allen and Putnam counties

Several council members expressed doubts about Dakota Knous' arguments and told him they would neither endorse nor oppose the application.

Also on the agenda, members passed several pieces of legislation, including the zoning of just over two acres that recently had been annexed from Noble Township. The land will be zoned as R-3 single-family residential. The issue was passed on third reading after no objections were voiced at a public hearing earlier in the evening.

Also passed on third reading was an ordinance vacating an east-west alley in the North Addition of the city. The property is owned by St. Peter's United Church of Christ. The 12-foot stretch lies west of Perry Street, south of North Street and north of High Street. It runs from the north-south alley west of Perry Street east to Perry Street between North and High streets.

Members also approved a resolution of appreciation for attorney Eldon E. Montague, who is moving out of St. Marys after 96 years in the city. He will live with his daughter in the Cincinnati area. Montague practiced law for 67 years in St. Marys. He also served the community in various capacities, including as former president of the St. Marys Chamber of Commerce and founder of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Auglaize/Mercer counties.

Members approved legislation for supplemental expenses that had been endorsed by the finance committee last week.

Passed were,

• $5,000 for tax refunds in case of a shortfall in business taxes.

• $354 for materials for the city law director's office.

• $369 for additional entry-level examinations for hiring police officers.

• $10,000 for the swimming pool fund to cover an anticipated $3,000 deficit in 2017 and to have a carryover balance for 2018.

• $250 for potential refunds to water customers leaving the city services area.

• $8,204 to cover a possible shortfall in the sanitary sewer fund.

• $2.8 million to cover electrical use in the city for November and December. The money will be reimbursed when customers pay their bills for those months.

• $10,000 for combined electric and water payment refunds for those getting a refund of service deposits.

• the transfer of $6,000 from the street construction fund to the capital improvements fund and $3,000 from the supplies fund to the capital improvements fund to enable the funds to be used for items costing at least $500 and having at least a five-year lifespan.