After a brief public hearing that drew no comment or opposition, the Isabel Board of Trustees last Wednesday, Dec. 8, approved the community’s first application for a cannabis establishment license.
The one-year, $5,000 license was issued to Ryan Maher for The Occidental, also doing business as RMM Enterprises Inc., for Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022.
Maher, Dist. 28 State Senator, serves as president of the board of trustees. The Occidental is the name of a new grocery/convenience/off-sale liquor store he plans to open shortly after the new year in the former Super Valu grocery store on Main Street in Isabel. He abstained from the vote on his license application.
South Dakota Initiated Measure 26 - known as the Medical Marijuana Initiative - was approved by state voters on Nov. 3, 2020 and medical marijuana became legal in the state on July 1 of this year.
In September, the Isabel Board of Trustees approved a measure governing the licensing and regulation of medical marijuana establishments within the community. Under the ordinance, no more than two dispensaries will be allowed to operate in the town of Isabel at one time and may only do so between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The number of licenses allowed was determined using Isabel’s current off-sale liquor license ordinance, which sets the cap at two. The ordinance also contains definitions, procedures and penalties.
Prior to being licensed by the state to dispense medical marijuana, Maher must still wade through a sea of paperwork and more application fees to obtain proper certification from the South Dakota Dept. of Health. If he is unable to do so, he may be reimbursed half of his $5,000 application fee from the town of Isabel.
In other action, the town board:
- Approved building permits for Perry Schuh and Char Boysen for the construction or placement of storage sheds on their respective properties.
- Directed Finance Officer Karla Nordyke to contact a firm to conduct an external audit of the books, noting the last time an audit was completed was in 2012 by the SD Dept. of Legislative Audit.
State law mandates that a municipality receiving more than $600,000 in revenue or more than $750,000 in federal funding in one year must undergo an external audit. Municipalities that do not meet that criteria must have an external audit performed by the Dept. of Legislative Audit once every 10 years.
- Received an update on the Community Center project, noting the kitchen remodel is complete and all electrical outlets and new appliances are functional. The board also approved a request to install a sliding door in the service window between the kitchen and social room and to construct a folding table underneath the window using donated funds to cover the cost.
(See board minutes on page 17)