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Todd County planners review draft cannabis ordinance; table decision after public questions
Summary
Planning staff walked commissioners through a draft cannabis ordinance that includes civil penalties up to $2,000, an optional cap on retail licenses (one per 12,500 residents), residential setbacks and temporary-event standards; after public questions and board concerns the commission voted to table the draft for further work.
Planning staff presented a draft Todd County cannabis ordinance and highlighted penalty, licensing and setback provisions before the county planning commission voted to table further action.
Adam Osfort, planning staff, told the commission the draft was posted in advance and walked members through key items, saying, “We can charge up to $2,000 for that” for operating without a license. He described application requirements, a proposed option to limit retail licenses to one per 12,500 residents (which would allow up to three retail licenses in Todd County), and a proposed setback for legally established residences. Osfort said some section numbering was a typographical error he would correct and that the ordinance had pieces drawn from a model posted by the Office of Cannabis Management.
The public asked for clarification on enforcement and whether the $2,000 figure was an administrative fine; Osfort said the draft frames the penalty as civil and that the county attorney’s office would likely be involved in issuing penalties. A public commenter warned against regulatory overreach, arguing it “suffocates opportunity,” and several commissioners raised concerns about provisions that would automatically approve temporary events if they meet every standard.
Board members discussed whether an application should require prior state approvals, how to treat preexisting cultivation, and how mapping of setbacks (schools, residences and parks) would limit buildable sites. Osfort said the county needs to adopt rules by December to avoid operating without regulations and invited commissioners and the public to suggest edits ahead of the next planning commission meeting.
After discussion, the planning commission voted to table the ordinance and send a refined draft forward later. The motion to table carried on roll call. The planning commission indicated it will continue work in coming weeks before referring a recommendation to the county board.
