DETROIT LAKES
— A proposed joint powers system with Becker County would give participating townships a say in whether to allow cannabis operations in the township.

Height of Land Township is interested in the idea, and would be the first township to join the joint powers agreement, if it is ultimately approved by the Becker County Board.

It would be modeled on a subdivision zoning joint powers agreement currently in use between the county and six townships that surround Detroit Lakes. The county handles the application process, does the notifications, holds the public hearing, and the recommendations go to the township.

The application fee remains with the county, county staff handle all the paperwork, but “ultimately, the decision will be made by them (the township boards),” said Becker County Planning and Zoning Administrator Kyle Vareberg.

He said Height of Land Township recently voted to ask the County Board to approve such a joint powers agreement. At the June 17 County Board meeting, Commissioner Phil Hansen asked Kyle Vareberg where the push was coming from for the new joint powers agreement. “Did the township come to the county and want this?” he asked.

Varberg said Height of Land Township has been interested in the issue since the state legalized recreational marijuana, but said he suggested the township pursue it and strongly supports the idea. Vareberg said earlier in the year that he had been hearing an earful from rural residents angry about the state legalizing recreational cannabis.

Hansen pointed out that 38 Becker County townships earlier agreed to let the county handle the cannabis zoning issues. Vareberg acknowledged that, but said that townships generally aren’t geared up to jump into zoning administration work, but may want to have a say in approving cannabis operations, as long as the county handles the paperwork through a joint powers system.

Commissioners Barry Nelson, Erica Jepson and David Meyer all voiced support for the joint powers system, to empower local townships to make the call on cannabis operations within their boundaries.

“The state made it very clear they wanted townships to be involved in delegating this,” Kyle Vareberg said. The Becker County cannabis ordinance does not limit the number of cannabis-related businesses in Becker County, so the joint powers agreement is a way to allow townships to do that if they wish.

The only fly in the THC ointment is that, by state law, every county in Minnesota, including Becker County, must issue a retail cannabis license to no fewer than one registration for every 12,500 residents.

So if all the townships and cities in Becker County were to ‘just say no” to stores that want to sell cannabis products, the county could be in violation of state law, and something would have to give.

Becker County had an estimated population of 35,444 people last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, so at least a few retail licenses have to be approved.

To cover all the bases, the county’s cannabis joint powers agreement will include language enabling the county to pull out of the agreement if necessary to comply with state law.

The County Board took no action on June 17, but appears likely to move forward on the joint powers cannabis agreement with Height of Land Township. Vareberg said several other townships, such as Audubon Township, have expressed interest in the idea and may well follow suit.

“I think we move forward with it,” said Jepson. “Yep, I agree,” said Meyer.

Roger Winter, who chairs the Association of Becker County Townships, said that he would let townships know about the proposed joint powers cannabis option.