Board reviews cannabis complaint findings; staff says ordinance limits county action on odor and wells

County administrator Kelly Schroeder reviewed written responses to recurring complaints about a cannabis facility’s odor, lighting, and wastewater management and told the board that, under the county ordinance as written, staff have not found a violation warranting enforcement action.

Schroeder noted that county inspectors recorded minimal or no odor on the three dates and times they were present, but also acknowledged that odors vary by operating conditions and that monitoring is limited to the public roadway. She said, "we were there on those 3 dates and had detected no odor or minimal odor at those times" and added that Pine County lacks authority over private wells and cannot deny permits based on water‑test results unless the ordinance requires it; she encouraged townships and the state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) or the MPCA to be involved where appropriate.

Public commenter Denise Rice told the board she recorded a far larger set of odor incidents in May (stating 16 days or 51.61% of the month) and said that being marginalized in the county’s response felt disrespectful. Board members discussed whether to invite OCM to the zoning board meeting for a Q&A; one commissioner made a motion to request OCM presence at the zoning board meeting. Schroeder said the zoning board meets Thursday and can consider recommended ordinance amendments and that the county will continue monitoring and will seek guidance from state agencies if the board requests it.