Colby passes new rules for THC, liquor

By Nathaniel Underwood

Colby’s city council approved a couple of new ordinances and took steps toward rezoning several downtown commercial properties at its meeting on Feb. 4.

The ordinances include new regulations on the use and sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products and a new point system for liquor licenses, while the discussions regarding zoning of commercial properties would disallow the first floor of these properties to be used for residential purposes.

Restrictions on THC products

At the city’s recent city planning meeting, a representative from the Clark County Health Department presented the committee with the county’s ordinance regarding hempderived THC products. These products contain extracts from cannabis plants that contains 0.3 percent or less of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or hemp, which was made legal to produce in the United States with the 2018 Farm Bill.

According to the representative, these products are unregulated at the state level in Wisconsin, meaning that there are no age re-

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strictions on usage or licensure required to sell these products.

In November, the Clark County Board passed a county ordinance that put an age restriction on the use or possession of hempderived products, stating that no one under the age of 21 may use or possess such products, nor can individuals or businesses sell such products to persons under the age of 21. The ordinance also states that the age of potential customers must be verified with a valid photo ID and that hemp-derived cannabinoids cannot be sold within 750 feet of hospitals, churches or schools.

However, this ordinance can only be enforced by the county sheriff’s department. As such, the county is asking that municipalities also adopt ordinances that would mirror the county ordinance so that local police can enforce the new rules.

At the Feb. 4 council meeting, the planning committee presented an ordinance drafted that closely resemble an ordinance already in place in Abbotsford that would allow the restrictions on hemp-derived THC products in the county ordinance to be enforced by local police in the city of Colby.

The primary difference between the Abbotsford ordinance and the Colby ordinance is that Abbotsford’s does not include the setbacks between storefronts selling these products and institutions like schools. Colby’s ordinance mirrors the county ordinance on this front, noting that such products cannot be sold within 750 feet of these properties.

Councilors questioned whether a current business in the strip mall on Highway 13 was within 750 feet of the school, but it was noted that the distance is measured along the shortest designated road or walkway from the main entrance of the school to the premises of the business, which would put the business outside of the 750 feet minimum.

The council approved the ordinance unanimously.

Liquor license point system

Police chief Alex Bowman also asked the board to adopt a new point system to be used to potentially suspend or revoke liquor licenses. The city of Abbotsford recently approved a similar system, and it was noted that having similar ordinances would make enforcement easier for the joint department.

The new ordinance creates a system of demerit points that can be levied on license holders if they violate the ordinance on the sale of alcoholic beverages. Examples of violations that would earn demerit points include the sale of alcoholic beverages to underaged or intoxicated individuals, after hours consumption, refusal to allow police to search premises or permitting a person to leave the premises with an open alcohol beverage.

Under the new points system, the council will have the ability to suspend a license for 30 days if someone accumulates 200 or more points over a 12 month period. Additionally, 250 points in a 24 month period would result in a suspension of 60 days, and 300 points in 36 months would result in suspension for 90 days. The council may also choose to revoke the license as well, and if it is revoked, no other license shall be granted for 12 months.

This ordinance was also approved unanimously.

Rezoning of commercial areas

The council also took steps towards rezoning of several commercial properties in the city’s downtown.

The city has two different general commercial district zoning designations. The existing commercial zones have a CG-1 designation while the city hopes to rezone a number of these properties to a CG-2 designation. CG-2 zoned properties would not allow to have residential spaces on the first floor, while those under the CG-1 designation are allowed multi-family residential on the ground level.

Properties rezoned to CG-2 with existing residential spaces on the first floor would not be required to change at this time, but if those spaces change their use, they would not be able to go back to residential spaces.

The planning committee believes that it would be best to start with the downtown area on First Street and a few nearby properties along Highway 13, rather than trying to tackle all of the properties they will be looking to change at once.

The committee will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed zoning changes on Tuesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. where members of the public can speak on the rezoning. Following the hearing, the zoning changes would go to the full council for approval.

Other business

■ ■ The council approved the installation of batting cages at the city softball fields on East Street. The cages will be placed on the west side of the southernmost field, with the Colby Booster Club to pay for the turf and netting and Loos Machine to construct and donate the frame for the cage. The city will cover leveling the site and filling the concrete at an estimated cost of $4,000. The needed funds will be reallocated from those currently budgeted to make repairs to the food shelter, with the Cheese Days committee potentially paying for those repairs instead.

■ ■ Civic Hometown Hero banners to honor members of the community in public service sectors such as nurses, police, firefighters and paramedics will be displayed on Colby streets this coming summer. These banners will be similar to those displayed for area veterans over the past two summers. Those interested in honoring an individual can pick up and fill out an application form and return it to the Colby City Hall by March 1. The banners cost $200 and will be hung for both this summer season and in 2026, after which they can be collected by the purchaser.

■ ■ The city provided the Central Fire and EMS District with a new contract for the bookkeeping services the city provides. The new contract increases the amount charged from $500 to $800 per month, with a five percent increase every year. It was estimated that the city of Colby spent approximately $780 per month on just wages for the individuals’ time spent on bookkeeping for the district, but those numbers did not include benefits those employees receive or office supplies.

No termination date for the contract was set, but either party could choose to terminate it after giving the other party 90 days notice. The council decided to give the Central Fire and EMS District until April 1 to respond.