Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
Bryan City Council met on November 20, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. with councilors Richard Hupe, Judy Yahraus, John Betts, Mary Leatherman, and Jim Kozumplik present alongside CFO / Treasurer John Lehner and Mayor Carrie Schlade.
The meeting began with the mayor sharing that there will be a vacant seat for Ward Four on council, and applicants should send their letter of interest in an email to the mayor.
The agenda was then started on, with the minutes from the November 6, 2023 meeting being approved as presented, as was Mr. Lehner’s report, which covered the city’s financials through October of 2023.
Two ordinances prohibiting adult-use cannabis operators, cultivators, and dispensaries from operating within the City of Bryan and within the C-3 Zoning District were discussed and tabled.
The polls showed Bryan with split support, with about half of voters in Bryan supporting recreational marijuana use with a record-breaking turnout of voters.
The state is currently working on regulatory parameters, and councilor Hupe led discussion on not wanting to enact a full ban on something that has been shown to have the local and state-wide support of their constituents, while also wanting to be sure that the local municipality will be enabled to pass legislation enacting specific parameters.
They are looking from input from the community on what limits to establish, but are clear that this is no longer a moral issue, with it being “no more of a moral issue than alcohol now in the State of Ohio.”
It was again reiterated that cannabis use cannot be prohibited, as Bryan residents will be able to grow and consume personal plants and legally bought products, and council seemed to concur that the C- 3 Zoning District should be off limits to dispensaries and cultivators.
It is recommended that whatever council decides be implemented by December 7, 2023, and so it was decided that the Bryan City Council would meet in special session on November 27th at 4:30 p.m. so that they could decide what limitations will be put in place for cannabis sale within Bryan City limits.
Steve Cox of Huntington Drive came to ask council if a decision was made on the re-paving of Eastland Estates.
It was said that core samples have to be taken from the road to determine what needs to go into the re-paving, and since it was shared that the homeowners did not wish for core samples to be taken, no money was budgeted for this project next year.
Three ordinances allowing contracts for mutual aid fire protection services agreement with Pulaski and Jefferson Townships, Hillside Country Living, Opdycke Park, and the Williams County Park Building were approved on their first readings after a suspension of rules.
A resolution was then passed approving Mayor Schlade to sign a TREX form approving a liquor permit for Zazarac’s, LLC located at 116 West High Street.
Council thanked Mr. Swanson with Zazarac’s for their contributions to the city and wished the best of luck on their next steps.
A building permit was given for Eric’s Ice Cream before Mayor Schlade thanked council for their cordial discussion, and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
The Fire Department asked everyone to please be safe this Thanksgiving, especially when getting the family dinner ready, before council made their closing remarks – thanking those that voted, ran for public office, and came to the meeting, as well as wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving- before they voted to adjourn.
Council is set to meet next on November 27, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. for their special session on cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, and dispensaries.