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Rolla council holds first readings on mayor pay, kratom ban and school-day turn restriction
Summary
Councilmembers conducted first readings Feb. 17 of ordinances amending mayor compensation, restricting sales and possession of certain unregulated substances (Kratom, 7-OH, selected hemp-derived products), and limiting left turns from Holmes onto Salem Avenue during school days; council requested clarifying exemptions and definitions and heard supportive public comments from recovery ministry leaders.
The Rolla City Council on Feb. 17 conducted first readings of three distinct ordinances: an amendment to mayor compensation, a proposed ban on unregulated kratom/7-hydroxymitragynine and certain hemp-derived products, and a traffic ordinance restricting left turns from Holmes onto Salem Avenue during school days.
City Counselor James Klahr read each ordinance for its first reading. On the mayor compensation ordinance (amending Section 2-69), Councilman William Hahn proposed language to delay effect until the next mayoral term; Klahr explained constitutional limits on increasing pay during an incumbent’s active term, and Hahn withdrew the amendment. The ordinance remains at first reading.
On the unregulated-substances ordinance, Police Chief Sean Fagan clarified the draft is intended to target unregulated retail versions of kratom, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and certain hemp-derived products and does not affect products sold through licensed dispensaries; councilmembers requested explicit exemption language for licensed businesses and that definitions for Delta-8 and Delta-9 be aligned. Public commenters including David Dukes and Pastor Joshua Patrick addressed the council: Dukes asked that the ordinance be extended to cover synthetic substances, and Pastor Patrick, who leads a local recovery ministry, thanked the council for the ordinance effort.
Public Works Director Darin Pryor presented the traffic ordinance amending Section 27-88 to limit left turns from Holmes onto Salem Avenue only during school days; Klahr read that ordinance for its first reading as well. All three items will return for further consideration after the council and legal staff refine language.
