The Mancos Town Board voted 5-1 Wednesday night to approve a retail marijuana store in town, making Mancos the first spot in Montezuma County where you can legally buy marijuana without a medical card.
Trustee Michele Black voted against the shop, saying, "I know there are people who are not for this."
During a public hearing before the vote, three people spoke in favor of the store, named The Shop. No one spoke against it, and the hearing lasted three minutes.
Shop owner Fete said he expects to open the boutique-like shop at 449 Railroad Ave. in a few weeks. He plans to employ six people, and he said no marijuana would be grown at the store.
"We are really excited to get open and start," Fete said.
Cindy Mykitiuk also spoke in favor of The Shop.
"Nate has been a real pleasure to work with," she said. "He makes sure he is not disturbing us in any way. Hopefully his business prospers."
Daryl Acker spoke to The Shop's economic benefit.
"I am in favor of opening The Shop, if for no other reason, than for the tax revenue," she said. "This money will allow us to do important things in the town."
When the public hearing closed, Mayor Rachael Simbeck asked for a show of hands from the audience. Only Mancos Town Marshall John Cox person raised a hand in opposition.
Mancos Town Manager Andrea Phillips said the store would be the required 1,000 feet from a school.
"The building looks great, and they have security measures in place," she said.
Mancos already has one medical marijuana shop. Cortez has several, and two requests to open retail shops.
Another Excelsior dust-up
Also Wednesday, Chip Tuthill, spokesperson for the Concerned Residents of Riverside, read a statement regarding issues with Western Excelsior, which makes rolled erosion-control products just west of Mancos.
"It is snowing dust," Tuthill said. "They have completely stopped any effort to contain dust."
Tuthill told the town board that he'd never seen so much debris in the air.
He requested that the board ask an inspector from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to conduct an inspection.
Town notes
Also Wednesday, it was announced the Town Planning Commission will not meet this month.
Trustee Queenie Barz asked that anyone who wants to add an ornament to the VFW tree, which honors veterans, should contact her.
After a 31-minute closed session meeting, during which board members evaluated Phillips, trustee Todd Kearns made the motion to approve a 1 percent merit increase for the town administrator. The motion passed by a roll-call vote with Will Stone voting against the raise.
The next town Board meeting will be Jan. 14. The next town board workshop will be Jan. 7, to discuss Boyle Park and code enforcement.