Wolf Point Council Talks Chickens, Weed
The Wolf Point City Council held its regular meeting Sept. 21. During public comment, Alyssa Toavs spoke to ask for an ordinance change to allow chickens. “We live in a rural, farming and ranching community,” Toavs said. “I want my children to experience a small piece of that firsthand.”
Pat Will spoke requesting information about youth programs. “I want some communication from the people running these programs,” she said. She said overall participation is down in city recreational programs because of poor marketing and promotion.
Melissa Berger with Great Northern Development Corporation spoke to the council. Mayor Chris Dschaak told her about fencing concerns on redevelopment projects.
City attorney Montana Wilson addressed the council about licensing and business registration issues for an established local cannabis dispensary. Chris Pipe with Medicine Creek Caregivers/Pipes addressed the council and said that the current ordinance is blocking the transfer of ownership to a local entity.
Council member Dean Mahlum said the limit on dispensaries in Wolf Point has been exceeded for nearly a decade and the hope is to get the number down below the legal limit of three. They also discussed signage issues and the history of the development of cannabis ordinance language at the council. The Pipes said they are seeking a variance on the ordinance. Dschaak sent the matter to the planning board for consideration.
Mayor Dschaak discussed ongoing efforts by the Wolf Point Police Department to clear vagrants and intoxicated pedestrians from city streets, characterizing the targets of the policing approach as criminals.
Council member Craig Rodenberg spoke to Police Chief Anthony Cambridge about police coverage generally, asking, “Are there any plans to extend police protection to something like 24-hour coverage?” Cambridge answered, “No there is not.”
Resignations were approved from the city’s animal control officer and the landfill gatekeeper.
Dschaak put a candidate forward for council from Ward 4 for consideration. The council voted to appoint Tanya Firemoon to the position. She will be sworn in before the next council meeting.
