A former city manager in the Chicago suburb of Elgin — David Dorgan — addressed the Monmouth City Council on Monday evening in regards to opening a recreational marijuana dispensary within the city limits.
Dorgan has received a license from the state to operate a facility in western Illinois, and he has chosen Monmouth as the site that he would like to pursue.
City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher describes the next steps involved in the process:
“After discussing the matter and asking some questions of the businessman, Council voted 8-0 to direct the City Attorney to draft two ordinances: the first, to allow a recreational marijuana dispensary in the community; and, the second, to impose a 3 percent excise tax on the sale of marijuana.”
An early estimate on annual sales of recreational marijuana in Monmouth could total between
4 and 5 million dollars per year.
This amount would then be taxed at a rate of 3 percent by the city, and 3.75 percent by the county — if, in fact, the dispensary was allowed to operate in Monmouth.
Steinbrecher expects the matter to come back to Council later this month, or at December’s meeting, for official action.
WASTE COLLECTION BID RECOMMENDATION: After careful review by City of Monmouth staff, Administrator Lew Steinbrecher has recommended the city’s curbside solid waste collection bid be awarded to Lakeshore Recycling Systems.
A combination of community development and economic advantages led Steinbrecher to make this recommendation:
“Lakeshore Recycling has made some major investments in the community,” Steinbrecher said. “They purchased the transfer station from the City a few months ago, and they also recently purchased the Alexander Lumber property (on South Main Street).
“They truly have become a local, Monmouth-based business, which includes generating new revenue for the City at the transfer station.”
To listen to the complete review of Monday’s City Council meeting, as well as a recent interview with Lakeshore Recycling Vice President Dustin Reynolds, click the links below:
