Truth Seeker
New Member
Instead of having its permit revoked, a Myrtletown medical marijuana collective has been given the chance to prove it's severed all ties with its previous director and can comply with stipulated conditions.
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday, with 3rd District Supervisor Mark Lovelace dissenting, to continue the hearing on the Humboldt County Collective's permit revocation for 90 days in an effort to give the new owners of the collective time to resolve its outstanding problems.
Lovelace said he voted against the motion because the collective crossed a line by not following the conditions of its permit.
"That's a bell that just can't be un-rung," Lovelace said.
The Humboldt County Planning Commission voted 6-1 in June, with Commissioner Mel Kreb dissenting, in favor of revoking the collective's permit after county staff identified deficiencies in the collective's annual monitoring report. Staff said the collective failed to comply with the conditions of its permit, including driveway improvements and proving that it's a nonprofit operation. In addition, county staff identified certain areas of concern, including high payroll expenses, unexplained costs -- such as nearly $32,700 for supplies -- and nearly $9,800 in automobile expenses.
Revocation of the permit was heavily considered by the supervisors, but they opted to give the collective's new owners -- who took over in May -- the opportunity to come into compliance with the permit's stipulations.
As part of the board's motion, the collective must complete driveway improvements listed in the original conditional use permit, work with public works staff to create appropriate subtle signage, prove that the collective has severed all ties with its former director Bill Byron, and have a third-party auditor review financial statements dating back to when the new owners took over.
Byron was arrested April 5 in Pennsylvania on suspicion of marijuana trafficking, conspiracy and related offenses. His arrest came one day after California Department of Justice agents served warrants at the collective, which closed down for about a month. He allegedly shipped a package of marijuana to a false name at a home he was staying at in Pennsylvania.
New owner JoAnn Hammans, who took over with her husband, said she reopened the collective with her own money so the public could have safe access to medical marijuana.
"The collective's financial and legal problems were caused by Mr. Byron," Hammans said.
All of the supervisors expressed concern about Byron still potentially being involved in the collective's affairs.
Fourth District Supervisor Virginia Bass said she'd heard rumors Byron is still nearby.
"It's hard to feel real confident," Bass said.
Second District Supervisor Clif Clendenen agreed.
"There's too much that's uncomfortable about this," Clendenen said.
Under the questioning of 1st District Supervisor Rex Bohn, Hammans said Byron still lives in the area near the collective. She said he asked her to take over the business when his legal troubles began. She said she knows him because he and her son went to high school together. She assured the board he has no current role in the collective.
During public comment, five people spoke in favor of the collective's new owners and against revoking the permit. Two people spoke stating they'd prefer to see the permit rescinded.
Trinidad resident Lilith Trainor said she supports the collective and its new owners.
"I realize there are problems, but if we work together we can solve them," Trainor said.
Planning Commissioner Denver Nelson said he was on the commission when the permit was approved and now supports its revocation.
"The collective had a year to meet these conditions," Nelson said. "They didn't fulfill the requirements of their permit."
Clendenen agreed with Nelson's statements.
"It's like, could they find anything else to violate? But I'm also appreciative that we have new captains on the ship," Clendenen said.
If the collective can prove in 90 days that it's completed the county's to-do list, it could be issued a one-year conditional use permit. Currently, the permit -- issued Aug. 5, 2010 -- is open-ended as this was the first collective to operate in the county under a permit. Staff said a one-year permit is more appropriate because it aligns with the conditions placed on other dispensaries.
If the new owners fail to meet the requirements, the supervisors made it clear the permit will be revoked.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: times-standard.com
Author: Megan Hansen
Contact: Contact Us - Times-Standard Online
Website: Supervisors delay pot permit revocation for 90 days; Myrtletown medical marijuana collective in limbo - Times-Standard Online
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday, with 3rd District Supervisor Mark Lovelace dissenting, to continue the hearing on the Humboldt County Collective's permit revocation for 90 days in an effort to give the new owners of the collective time to resolve its outstanding problems.
Lovelace said he voted against the motion because the collective crossed a line by not following the conditions of its permit.
"That's a bell that just can't be un-rung," Lovelace said.
The Humboldt County Planning Commission voted 6-1 in June, with Commissioner Mel Kreb dissenting, in favor of revoking the collective's permit after county staff identified deficiencies in the collective's annual monitoring report. Staff said the collective failed to comply with the conditions of its permit, including driveway improvements and proving that it's a nonprofit operation. In addition, county staff identified certain areas of concern, including high payroll expenses, unexplained costs -- such as nearly $32,700 for supplies -- and nearly $9,800 in automobile expenses.
Revocation of the permit was heavily considered by the supervisors, but they opted to give the collective's new owners -- who took over in May -- the opportunity to come into compliance with the permit's stipulations.
As part of the board's motion, the collective must complete driveway improvements listed in the original conditional use permit, work with public works staff to create appropriate subtle signage, prove that the collective has severed all ties with its former director Bill Byron, and have a third-party auditor review financial statements dating back to when the new owners took over.
Byron was arrested April 5 in Pennsylvania on suspicion of marijuana trafficking, conspiracy and related offenses. His arrest came one day after California Department of Justice agents served warrants at the collective, which closed down for about a month. He allegedly shipped a package of marijuana to a false name at a home he was staying at in Pennsylvania.
New owner JoAnn Hammans, who took over with her husband, said she reopened the collective with her own money so the public could have safe access to medical marijuana.
"The collective's financial and legal problems were caused by Mr. Byron," Hammans said.
All of the supervisors expressed concern about Byron still potentially being involved in the collective's affairs.
Fourth District Supervisor Virginia Bass said she'd heard rumors Byron is still nearby.
"It's hard to feel real confident," Bass said.
Second District Supervisor Clif Clendenen agreed.
"There's too much that's uncomfortable about this," Clendenen said.
Under the questioning of 1st District Supervisor Rex Bohn, Hammans said Byron still lives in the area near the collective. She said he asked her to take over the business when his legal troubles began. She said she knows him because he and her son went to high school together. She assured the board he has no current role in the collective.
During public comment, five people spoke in favor of the collective's new owners and against revoking the permit. Two people spoke stating they'd prefer to see the permit rescinded.
Trinidad resident Lilith Trainor said she supports the collective and its new owners.
"I realize there are problems, but if we work together we can solve them," Trainor said.
Planning Commissioner Denver Nelson said he was on the commission when the permit was approved and now supports its revocation.
"The collective had a year to meet these conditions," Nelson said. "They didn't fulfill the requirements of their permit."
Clendenen agreed with Nelson's statements.
"It's like, could they find anything else to violate? But I'm also appreciative that we have new captains on the ship," Clendenen said.
If the collective can prove in 90 days that it's completed the county's to-do list, it could be issued a one-year conditional use permit. Currently, the permit -- issued Aug. 5, 2010 -- is open-ended as this was the first collective to operate in the county under a permit. Staff said a one-year permit is more appropriate because it aligns with the conditions placed on other dispensaries.
If the new owners fail to meet the requirements, the supervisors made it clear the permit will be revoked.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: times-standard.com
Author: Megan Hansen
Contact: Contact Us - Times-Standard Online
Website: Supervisors delay pot permit revocation for 90 days; Myrtletown medical marijuana collective in limbo - Times-Standard Online
