By Jef Rietsma
Journal Correspondent
Voters in Constantine will decide May 4 whether to allow recreational-marijuana facilities to continue operating within the village.
The matter appears on the ballot after a resident-led petition qualified the measure to be decided by Constantine’s 1,258 registered voters.
Village manager Mark Honeysett said a “no” vote allows adult-use marijuana businesses to continue. A “yes” vote would end such operations.
Regardless of the outcome, Honeysett said the vote will have no impact on the village’s medical marijuana operations.
“If the ‘yes’ votes prevail, it would eliminate recreational entirely,” he said. “Within the village, we have three of the five components: grow, processing and selling. So, again, if the referendum to eliminate recreational passes, then all components of recreational facilities in the village would be affected.”
By Angie Birdsall
Constantine Village Council began planning Fourth of July activities, at its meeting April 19.
For the first time since 2010, Independence Day is on a Sunday. The parade, which usually begins at 11 a.m. on the 4th, is set for 2 p.m., in deference to morning church services.
Village manager Mark Honeysett said only a few other communities plan to feature a fireworks display in 2021 because of pendemic restrictions. He was told by the village insurance company it is permissible to have a both the parade and fireworks.
In other summer-activity news, St. Joe Valley Golf Club will host this year’s Chief James Bedell Memorial Fourth of July Fundraiser at 9 a.m. June 12, Honeysett said. In addition, the fire department is planning “Family Fun Day,” which includes a car show on East Water Street.
By Angie Birdsall
Special to the Journal
At a meeting April 5, Constantine Village Council voted to allow enforcement of the International Property Maintenance Code.
Mike Haydon, code enforcement officer, was present at the meeting to answer questions.
Haydon serves 14 other municipalities in St. Joseph and Cass counties that have adopted and use IPMC. We re not adopting the code; we re already using IPMC,” Haydon said.
The state building inspector, Dave Rigozzi, hasn t the time to do inspections, Haydon said.
“It s the same process as any other ordinance and we re giving locals the opportunity to enforce it, he said.
Haydon said the focus is to correct issues, not condemn buildings.
Special the Journal
Constantine Village Council on April 5 discussed how to protect the village in a lawsuit filed by The Dude Abides, a medical/recreational marijuana provisioning center.
Village manager Mark Honeysett said the provisioning center seeks a preliminary injunction to effectively cancel a May 4 referendum election.
The referendum prohibits recreational marijuana sales in the village.
Named in the lawsuit are St. Joseph county clerk Lindsay Oswald, township clerk Ed Strobel and village clerk Cindy LaFluer.
The lawsuit does not seek any penalty or monetary compensation.
Honeysett said neither LaFluer nor the village should be named in a lawsuit, as they played no part in the referendum or election process.
By Angie Birdsall
Special to the Journal
Constantine Village Council has set a special meeting to finalize the 2021-22 village budget, for 7 p.m. March 29. It includes a public hearing at 7:03 p.m to hear comments regarding the budget.
Village manager Mark Honeysett presented the council with details about the budget at the March 15 meeting.
The taxable value increased from about $38 million to $40.1 million. The rise came from increased property value assessment and new construction at Corteva (formerly Pioneer Hi-Bred International) and Fawn River Cultivation Company on Industrial Drive.
The general fund revenue was increased significantly by the medical and recreational marijuana permit fees of $5,000 annually, Honeysett said.