Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current, December 16, 2015, Image 14

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Polk County itemizer observer., December 16, 2015, Page 14A, Image 14

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Newspaper Page TextPolk County News 14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 16, 2015 Falls City takes no action on legal marijuana By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — The city of Falls City took a practical ap- proach to dealing with legal marijuana and the possibili- ty a dispensary opening. The Falls City City Council decided to do nothing Thursday night at its meet- ing. Most councilors wouldn’t support a dispensary open- ing, but by not moving to GOVERNMENT ban marijuana, the city will be able to receive tax rev- enue from sales of the drug. If the council put the issue before voters in 2016 — the only legal way to ban mari- juana — it would lose tax money for that year. The council decided not to risk that on the slim chance a shop would open in Falls City. “I don’t see a dispensary coming in here because we are the end of the road,” said Mayor Terry Ungricht. Councilor Tony Meier said after talking with dispensary operators in other cities, he agreed the chances are low that someone would want to open a dispensary. “The cost of putting one in is prohibitive,” he said. Ungricht said House Bill 3400, the legislation adminis- tering marijuana, offers two options for banning the drug. The first applies to cities in counties that voted at 55 per- cent or higher against allowing recreational marijuana.That doesn’t include Polk County, which voted against Measure 91 at a 52.25 percent rate. That leaves only giving voters the final say on a ban. In Falls City’s precinct, the vote was 58.2 percent in favor of legalization. Ungricht offered four op- tions for the city to proceed: following state law; sending the issue to voters; using zoning and development codes to limit where opera- tions can be located; or using provisions within the city development code to ban marijuana, a move that the city’s attorney said could result in lawsuits. Councilor Dennis Sickles proposed a different op- tion: taking no action. By doing that, the city would receive tax revenue and wouldn’t have to cast a vote in favor of marijuana, he said. “If we do nothing, then we are following state law, then that’s what I think we do,” Sickles said. “Because I’m not voting for it.” C o m e w o r s h i p w i t h u s ! Come Join Us! Children’s Christmas Program will be held Sunday, Dec. 20 during the 10:30 am service. The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will start at 7:00 pm The New Year's Eve Party will be at 7:00 pm. Bring your favorite games and snacks. Christmas Eve Mass 4:00 pm & 10:00 pm Christmas Day Mass 9:00 am Dallas First Christian Church 1079 SE Jefferson St., Dallas 503-623-2569 St. Philip Catholic Church 825 SW Mill, Dallas • 503-623-2440 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 6:15 pm • December 24 Please note the time change is earlier than last year. We are inviting James2 participants to join us . A traditional service of carols, special music and candle light for the whole family! 565 SE LaCreole Drive • 503-623-2481 dallasumc@questoffice.net • wwwumcdallas.com Christmas Eve Add meaning to your Christmas season by celebrating the birth of Jesus in worship. 7 p.m. Candlelight Service 10 p.m. Candlelight Service with Communion St. Hilda’s Episcopal 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Carols and Eucharist Everyone is welcome! 245 W. Main St. • Monmouth 503-838-6087 Hot Cider & Cookies after each service All are welcome. Come as you are. Trinity Lutheran Church 320 SE Fir Villa Rd, Dallas Evangelical Bible Church invites you to Celebrate the True Meaning of Christmas Dec. 19th • 6:00 pm and Dec. 20th • 4:00 pm A Musical Christmas Program (across from the drive-in movie theater) 503-623-2233 www.dallastlc.org 1175 SE Howe St., Dallas • 503-623-2331