InMaricopa
Anyone with hoping to buy marijuana in Maricopa some day should probably lower their expectations.
After voters in November legalized recreational use statewide, several city officials are expressing reluctance to allow dispensaries in town.
Currently, there are no restrictions on any potential dispensaries or other marijuana-related industries in town, according to City Manager Rick Horst.
“There are none for recreational marijuana,” he said. “Thus, the need for a work session and the promulgation of regulations.”
But Mayor Christian Price indicated approval was not immediately forthcoming and that city council would need that work session to learn more.
“We need to learn about the ins and outs of the whole issue, and get both sides of the argument,” he said.
Shelby has its eyes set on building a park near uptown, but it needs public input first.
On Tuesday night, more than a dozen community members and city employees gathered at the City Park to learn more about phase 1 of the new Shelby Rail Trail Depot Park segment and give their thoughts on the project.
The city plans to build a four-acre park that would connect to the more than 10-mile Shelby Rail Trail that extends from the First Broad River to the North and South Carolina border near Earl. To make this project a reality, the city needs to secure the funds to build the estimated $1.7 million park. Shelby hopes to fund some of it with a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant.
InMaricopa
Copper Sky Regional Park has much space to grow on its eastern border. This Google Earth image predates the ongoing construction of the La Quinta hotel on a site at top left.
The expansion of Copper Sky Regional Park – with more athletic fields, retail shops, restaurants and perhaps a multi-use stadium to join a hotel set to open soon – will drive the city’s efforts to become a regional destination.
Lakeside dining, anyone?
The park was one of the focal points of a planning presentation given last week to city council by City Manager Rick Horst. With La Quinta Inn expected to open in March, Horst laid out an ambitious vision for complimentary projects. According to Horst, Copper Sky can be leveraged to attract other assets to help propel the city’s growth.
With New Yearâs Eveâtraditionally a time some set off fireworksâapproaching, Glendale City Council shot up fines for illegal fireworks at its December meeting.
According to Arizona law, âconsumer fireworksâ are permissible for use between June 24 and July 6, and Dec. 24 and Jan. 3.
But bottle rockets and booming firecrackers are not legal.Â
In Glendale, it is illegal to possess âdisplayâ fireworks, defined as âfirework devices designed primarily to produce visible or audible effect by combustion, deflagration or detonation, except authorized by city permit.â
Fireworks may not be discharged between 12:30 and 7 a.m.
âDisplay fireworks go in the air and make a loud noise,â Deputy City Manager Rick St. John noted.Â