Interim manager tells council an inquiry came in about an adult‑use marijuana dispensary; council asks for more information

Interim Village Manager Michael Lemon told the Village of Lincoln Heights Council on July 8 that the village had received an inquiry asking whether it would be amenable to hosting an adult‑use marijuana dispensary and asked the council to state its position so he could reply to the inquirer.

Lemon said state rules will limit locations (for example, minimum distances from schools), that the state is initially allowing medical dispensaries to add adult‑use sales, and that the state is expected to accept roughly 450 adult‑use applications statewide around September. He said potential municipal revenue would depend on a percentage of receipts and that it was too early to estimate a dollar amount.

Council members asked practical questions, including where a dispensary might be located and what revenue it could generate. Councilwoman Laverne Mitchell, chair of the economic development committee, urged that the matter be brought to that committee for study and argued the village should not automatically decline opportunities: "we missed out on a opportunity that was gonna be a $14,000,000 facility built in the village of Lincoln Heights..." she said, urging staff to gather more information and suggesting residents should have the opportunity to vote on projects that affect the community.

Manager Lemon said he will gather more information, including location proposals and revenue estimates, and present details to the committee and council before any formal commitment. There was no vote or action directing a moratorium or specific policy at this meeting; the council agreed to further study and requested that the economic development committee consider the topic.

Representative quotes from the meeting:

"We got information today, on whether or not the village of Lincoln Heights is amenable to, a medical I'm sorry, a an adult use marijuana dispensary." — Interim Village Manager Michael Lemon.

"I think it's something that I like to see brought to the committee...we missed out on a opportunity that was gonna be a $14,000,000 facility built in the village..." — Councilwoman Laverne Mitchell.

What happens next: Manager Lemon agreed to collect more information (possible sites, regulatory constraints, expected revenue share and state application details) for the economic development committee to review and for the council to consider before taking any formal position or action. Any final decision or ordinance would need to follow applicable state rules about licensing, distance restrictions, and local voter or council processes if required.

No formal vote was recorded on the dispensary inquiry at this meeting.