March 17, 2024 | South Central News & Media
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City of Lafayette Alerts Residents of Lead Service Line Inventory Work Ahead City of Lafayette
The City of Lafayette provided a Notice of Lead Service Line Inventory on March 8, which was also announced by the city online. T he Cit y of L a fayet t e announced it has received grant money f rom the Min nesota Department of Health (MDH) to conduct a lead service line inventory, now required of all city water systems. A service line is the pipe connecting
the water main to the interior plumbing of a building. While service lines are made of various materials such as copper or PVC, lead ser vice lines were commonly used prior to the 1986 federal ban, made effective on June 19, 1988. Over the course of the next few months, La fayet te city staff will be work ing with SEH, the City’s selected engineer, to develop a lead service line inventory. This will i nvolve documenti ng ever y ser vice line’s mater ia l a nd
location by reviewing historical records and giving residents the opportunity to either identify their own service line or allow city and SEH staff to inspect their service lines. There is no safe level of lead, and developing a lead service line inventory is the first step toward replacing any lead service lines in the city’s water system. Residents will receive notice in the mail with next steps and information regarding service line identification options.
Saint Peter Council Met with Public Criticism and Comment Over Streets and Assessments The Hour-Long Council Meeting Included Public Comment Over Pine Street Project Assessments and Traffic on Front By Robert Lawson Publisher info@nicolletcountyledger.com
The City of Saint Peter held its regular city council meeting on Monday, March 11. Agenda items included Public Hearing and Action: Ecumen Bonds; Public Hearing and Action: ‘24 Pine Street Assessments; One Watershed One Plan MOA; City Code Dog and Cat
License Modification; City Code Modification: Breweries; Cullen Street Project Design Engineering; DNR Grant Application; and a closed session for the 107 W Nassau sale. The public hearing for the Ecumen bond sale opened. The purpose was to raise non-taxable funds needed to refinance its business in Saint Peter, Ecumen at Prairie Hill. Ecumen runs several non-profit nursing home facilities
in Southern Minnesota. The city has no financial obligation. The city acts as a host. Bethel will issue the bonds, according to City Administrator Todd Prafke. The hearing closed. The next public hearing opened at 7:05 p.m. The hearing was to receive comment on costs related to the 2024 Pine Street project. Property owners have been notified of the project and related assessments (see previ-
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Under Nicollet County’s burn ban, open burning is not permitted until further notice. Fires could develop quickly and spread due to dry conditions, very low humidity levels, and steady north or northwest winds. Questions may be directed to the Minnesota DNR or Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office. Also as a reminder, if you’re planning any open burning activities, you must contact the Sheriff’s Office beforehand at 507931-1570. Photo courtesy of Nicollet County.
Office of Cannabis Management to Address Illegal Sales of Raw Cannabis Flower in MN Press Release State of Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management
Saint Paul, MN –The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced that it will begin enforcement to prevent the illegal sales of raw cannabis flower across Minnesota. The OCM has entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to add inspection capacity for illegal sales of raw cannabis flower. While Minnesota has legalized the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid consumer products, selling raw cannabis flower is currently illegal because OCM has not yet issued any cannabis business licenses. OCM has received complaints of retailers selling cannabis flower under the label of hemp flower. Hemp is legal only within limits specified by state and federal law. “Our primary goal at the Office of Cannabis Management is to ensure a safe, legal cannabis industry that
protects public health and provides accurate, reliable information to adult consumers,” said Charlene Briner, OCM interim director. “This interagency agreement gives us capacity to conduct inspections during this transitional implementation period, and more fully integrates the work of the MDH inspectors who will eventually transition their work to OCM.” MDH inspectors who have been conducting inspections of retailers selling legal hemp-derived cannabinoid products will begin simultaneous examination of raw flower products being offered for sale to ensure those products are hemp and not cannabis. The examination of raw flower products will include reviewing the product’s certificate of analysis for test results on total THC. Raw hemp flower must contain 0.3% or less of Delta-9 on a dry weight basis. Products exceeding 0.3% Delta-9 dry weight are considered marijuana and are illegal to sell. In addition to the additional inspection capacity, OCM will
expand product testing capacity by using a field mobile testing unit and through a contracted testing lab. Retailers found in violation of the law could be faced with embargo of product and fines of up to $1 million Two Pine Street residents in Saint Peter impacted by the Pine Street Improvement Project assessments for violating state law. Additionally, objected to the project during a public hearing March 8. violations may impact a person’s ability to receive a license for a cannabis business. OCM encourages retailers to review products that they are currently selling and ensure that the products fall within legal limits. OCM has sent a letter to all retailers registered with MDH to alert them that inspections of raw flower will begin immediately. In addition to the expanded inspection and testing capacity, OCM is asking the legislature to accelerate the timeline for the transition of the hemp-derived cannabinoid enforcement from MDH to OCM as early as July 1, 2024, rather than March 2025. The early transition is something OCM has identified as both a capacity building strategy and a way to better align and integrate the regulatory work that will all eventu- Two men that live on Front Street in Saint Peter addressed the city council on dangers associated with Continued on page 2 increased traffic and speeding along Front Street, which runs parallel to Hwy. 169 and the business district.
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