Subject: Marijuana Draft Ordinance

Hi Kelsey, I hope this note finds you well. We have lived in Oxford for a little over 14 years now. I can still

remember back to when we were house hunting and when we fell in love with Oxford. We loved the

small historic downtown. Our own little movie theater. A place where we could start and raise a

family. 14 years later our daughter is excelling in school and is a diehard Wildcat. All of this is why it

pains me that the possibility of "legally" growing marijuana in our great little town is even an option.

The willingness to sell out the integrity of our great little town, “Small. Done Right”, for a quick buck is

scary. Once that integrity is gone, it’s gone for good. It would forever tarnish the image of this great

place. If Oxford had growers when we were shopping for our home, we would have never even

considered purchasing here.

I grew up in a household with addiction. I saw the devastation firsthand. The pain and anger that my

mother still deals with. The resentment that she has for my dad, even after his death. The decisions

that haunt my brother to this day. I can’t even begin to comprehend why anyone would want to

contribute to any addiction of their family, friends, neighbors, or community. The push for growing

seems to be a selfish one, fueled by the greed for money or the greed of those who want to smoke it.

All at the expense of the wellbeing of our overall community. There is no dollar amount of revenue or

fees that would make the degradation of our community worth it.

Please don’t think of yourselves when making your decision, it goes way beyond that. Don’t think of

the near future when you make your decision, it will last much longer than that. Think of the legacy of

this town and the wellbeing of your children and loved ones. Think of the lifelong addictions you

would be contributing to. I know the argument is that the same people will be buying it, it would just

be here or somewhere else. Let it be somewhere else. Rest knowing that you didn’t contribute to, or

encourage those addictions. Send the message to the children that we care more about them, their

future, and the future of their community than we do about making some quick cash. Don’t teach

them that it’s ok to fuel addictions as long as we give in to peer pressure and stuff our pockets in the

process. Don’t teach them that just because something is legal it’s right. There are a lot of things that

are legal that I would never wish upon my children as crutches or addictions.

I care about Oxford, that’s why I’m speaking up. I want my kids to continue to grow here. I want to retire here someday. If I didn’t care I would just pack up and move away. Oxford deserves better. Small. Done Right. Thank you for taking the time to read this, Alan

Subject: Marijuana Draft Ordinance

Hi Kelsey,

My family and I have lived in Oxford for 14 years. I still remember the first time I saw downtown Oxford.

My boyfriend at the time, now husband, and I passed through on our way up north. I instantly fell in

love with the cute little town. I remember telling him, “I’d love to live in a town like this

someday.” After we got married, we started house hunting. Cute little downtown Oxford was still on

my mind. I wanted a home in a community where it was safe for our future kids to play

outside. Somewhere that had the conveniences of a larger town, like restaurants and a grocery store

nearby, but still had a small town feel and values that matched our own. We wanted a town where we

felt safe raising a family and also where we could retire someday. We found everything we were looking

for in Oxford.

If the marijuana ordinance is passed, we will lose that small town feel and open a Pandora’s box of

unexpected consequences. Property values will drop, especially for the homes near the I-1 industrial

zoning district. Families don’t want to move into or stay in a town that has marijuana businesses. I

know it would have been a deal breaker for me when house hunting. This will have a ripple effect on our

schools and any other businesses supported by tax dollars.

Bringing marijuana related businesses into Oxford will also attract a different type of potential

residents. This most likely will cause crime to go up in our relatively low crime community. I know to

this point some will say, “the revenue from passing the ordinance will offset the cost of additional police

officers etc.” This argument proves we already know what will happen if this ordinance is passed. A

little extra revenue is not worth jeopardizing the safety of Oxford’s residents and police officers.

The marijuana business owners won’t reside in Oxford. They don’t care what happens to our small

town. All they are thinking about is money. I live here and am raising my 12-year-old daughter and 2-

year-old son here. I care. I will have to live with the repercussions if this ordinance passes. The opinions

and thoughts of those that live in Oxford should supersede the wishes of those that just want to make

money here. I hope that if there are any decision makers that don’t reside in Oxford, they will think long

and hard if they would want this ordinance passed in the town where they reside.

I know marijuana is present in our community and that won’t change. If this ordinance is passed, it will

send the message that Oxford isn’t small town done right and money is more important than

people. Don’t sell out our city for a quick buck. Please think of the long-term effects of this

decision. Once it is passed, it cannot be undone.

I’ve always taught my kids, what is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right. I

know it would be easy to pass this ordinance and take the fast cash, but that isn’t the right decision for

our community and the people that live here. Please make the right decision, even if it isn’t popular.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Sincerely,

Jennifer O’Connor

Dear Councilpersons:

I, Ron Renaud of Addison Township, would like to encourage you to VOTE NO on

granting any marijuana business licenses anywhere in the Oxford community. It does

not help the community and would be a burden to the village's financial well-being as

the Fees and Excise tax that would be collected would not defray the costs of the rise in

law enforcement needed, the health care needs of people injured by the products if

taken, or the damage to the reputation of the village as a quaint, sweet, friendly, and

beautiful village that people want to come to live.

I have done some of the legwork on the possibilities of revenue from these

operations. If you take the last year's projected sales of $450 million in Michigan, the

state collects the 10% or $45 million and then pulls out their costs of implementation

(estimation of $5 million) then you must Minus the First $20 Million that brings it down

to $20 million, then there will be 15% to municipalities in which a marihuana retail store

or a marihuana microbusiness is located, allocated in proportion to the number of

marihuana retail stores and marihuana microbusinesses within the municipality. So that

brings us to $3 million to be SHARED with all municipalities. If you take the current

number of sales locations and growers in the state that is approximately 500 that

equates to $6,000 of Excise tax per location (if all locations are treated equally, but they

are not, as the municipalities that have more locations within their boundaries get more

per location). Let's go with the $6,000 per location and per year. Say you approve 3

locations that's $18,000. Right? With a $5,000 Annual Fee for each marihuana

establishment in the municipality. (How many are you planning to have here? As the Act

does not say you can charge the individuals a License fee it is a "marijuana

establishment" fee.) Plus, the $15,000 from the licenses that equals = $33,000.00.

For $33,000 you are going to have to add two officers to your police department to

enforce the laws that will be broken by selling to minors, sales outside of the regulated

area, usage in wrong areas, etc. etc. etc.. And you will also have to add the costs of

implementation and operation of the licensing, the enforcement of the licenses by

inspections and other expenses. Not to mention the effects on the Children and Adults

that may experience depression, abuse, suicide that adds costs to your health supports

of EMS and FIRE.

There are many pitfalls to this, and I've only mentioned a few, but I hope you see that

this is not something that should be considered as a benefit to the Village of Oxford, as

it is NOT.

It just does not add up to an advantage for the Village of Oxford or the Oxford

community as a whole.

Hopefully each one of you have reviewed the below Municipal guide:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mra/MRA_Municipal_Guide_705502_7.pdf

MUNICIPAL GUIDE - Michigan • Sec. 201.3: “Except as otherwise provided in this act, a person who owns or leases real

property upon which a marihuana facility is located and who has no knowledge that the

www.michigan.gov

And read Section 333.27956 of the law carefully.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(nixjmarbx0t0vo4544owhu4t))/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-

Initiated-Law-1-of-2018.pdf

Thanks for your willingness to consider the consequences of having this in our Oxford

community and please act accordingly by disallowing the industry to be in it and VOTE

NO on the ordinance.

Many kind regards, Ron Renaud Addison Township

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mra/MRA_Municipal_Guide_705502_7.pdfhttps://www.michigan.gov/documents/mra/MRA_Municipal_Guide_705502_7.pdfhttp://www.michigan.gov/http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(nixjmarbx0t0vo4544owhu4t))/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-Initiated-Law-1-of-2018.pdfhttp://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(nixjmarbx0t0vo4544owhu4t))/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-Initiated-Law-1-of-2018.pdf

I hope that Oxford does not become the new mecca for low achieving slackers to hang out and talk with their friends on how to skate through life always high, versus contribution new production of useful products and services used by others . Please don't vote them in, let the other towns have the problems they bring. .Any new tax revenue will not cover the costs, including the unproductive direction taken by our youth. Charles Bosler Oxford, MI

/

Nicole Wrobel

11 Scripter Ct

Village of Oxford

Oxford Township

Other:

The neighborhood risks of living near a marijuana grow facility are numerous and include odor, increase foot and vehicle traffic, high security, cameras, roaming armed personnel. Having this just 500 feet from homes on Glaspie is harmful to our children and impacts our home values. Detriments to neighborhood character, odor and visual issues, probability of black market activity, criminal incursion and theft of cash, plants. Slocannabiswarchgroup.org is a great resource for everything I’ve included here. We just moved to Scripter Estates last year and I will be so disappointed if the production facility is approved. The only increase in home values that I have heard about is retail, not grow. I hope you are considering the opinion of real estate professionals for all of us that live off of Glaspie and will be so close to this. And all the children that play at the parks off of Glaspie are all at risk if the grow facility moves forward. Please do not pass this and look to the other cities that have voted no.

This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google.

Public CommentAs we move into the next phase of the ordinance process, The Village Council & Planning Commission welcome your comments and questions regarding the Draft Marijuana Ordinance

Name (First & Last) *

Address *

Resident of *

Comments & Questions

 Forms

https://www.google.com/forms/about/?utm_source=product&utm_medium=forms_logo&utm_campaign=forms

/

Heather Becker-Hulswit

1160 Yale Dr.

Village of Oxford

Oxford Township

Other:

I wanted to voice my support for the proposed marijuana facility. I feel that Oxford could economically benefit from such a facility. It legal and I see no difference from the bars that are located in town. It would provide employment opportunities and much needed funds to help Oxford grow. I appreciate that consideration and hope you will move forward with this new business opportunity.

This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google.

Public CommentAs we move into the next phase of the ordinance process, The Village Council & Planning Commission welcome your comments and questions regarding the Draft Marijuana Ordinance

Name (First & Last) *

Address *

Resident of *

Comments & Questions

 Forms

https://www.google.com/forms/about/?utm_source=product&utm_medium=forms_logo&utm_campaign=forms

Dear Councilperson Kemp: Evelyn Archer Piotrowski here with one last try to encourage you to vote no on granting any business licenses anywhere in Oxford! Because a government group does a stellar job in drafting a proposed ordinance doesn't mean that it should be passed. Local government simply can't regulate social costs and unintended consequences. Teens will become our black-market users of marijuana if we encourage the industry in town, as forbidden fruit. Teens will smell marijuana on their way home from the middle, and elementary schools, and peer pressure will encourage them to find or buy an adult's stash in order to be lit. How do you regulate that? More police, bigger budget? I see Item 9h on the agenda for this Tues, the 9th Feb! More teen crime will unfold as the devastating effects on young peoples' brains causes aggression and worse. See also Alex Berenson's book Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence. Kids are already bombarded with cell-phone and covid-19 effects on their brains: increases in depression, abuse, suicide. How does Oxford regulate that? More police, fire/rescue, rehab clinics & hospitals use, i.e., bigger budget outlays compared to incoming revenue? What a great way to alienate the schools, teachers, and Oxford School Board & Admin should this pass. I don't think they would be happy with students' lacks of focus, drive to learn, and proven resulting aggression in class as well as truancy. We send teens a confused message about the environment should this marijuana ordinance pass. In class, and at home, teens learn about the import of clean air and water; yet the assault on air quality (water-quality "run-off" studies are in the works) is a problem. See also Bessemer, MI, where local govt. had to purchase a property to serve as an air-quality monitoring station after public outcry over the stink. That eats up marijuana revenues. Please consider that teens deserve a chance, as future voters, to become happy, well-educated, employed, productive members of our Village & Town--not alienated. Thanks for all you do, Evelyn Archer Piotrowski

Good evening Council members, I am emailing you to please maintain the ban on Marijuana businesses in the Village. I feel the benefits do not outweigh the risks and costs. Oxford is a special and unique place the way it is. I know it will change, but I hope it changes slowly. There have been many references to money from these types of businesses as a good source of potential revenue. I have found in my experience in life to always follow the money. When lawyers show up to village meetings who are not residents and say they represent people interested in these establishments, I become concerned. Everyone wants to make money even at the expense of someones vice. As our society changes it seems more and more vices are being opened up. In person casinos to online gambling to smoking shops to marijuana use. Greed will be and is always the downfall of a society. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, James Fifield

Dear Councilperson's Helmuth and Ross, My name is Ronald Piotrowski and I am reaching out to you with one last attempt to encourage a NO vote on the adult-use marijuana issue--no licensing no regulation-- at Tuesdays Council meeting. I have considered this issue over many months and have looked at it from every perspective I thought pertinent and I keep coming up with the same result or outcome. The increased cost of monitoring, enforcing and dealing with the unanticipated fallout as a result of allowing these establishments into our community will far outweigh any potential revenue. I know that the state has made marijuana use legal (although, I seriously questioned the wisdom of that decision); however, just because it is legal does not mean that we, here in our 'still lovely' community of Oxford, should be courting it. I am convinced that it is just a bad idea. Please vote no! Your no vote would certainly be representative of this voters (and so many more like me) position. Thank you for the opportunity to express my thoughts and for all that you do. Respectfully. Ronald Piotrowski 750 Lakes Edge Dr. Oxford, MI 48371

Amended 2.8.2021

Memorandum

To: Honorable President, Kelsey Cooke Council Members

From: Tere Onica, Clerk/Treasurer Date: February 8, 2021

Re: Auditing Services

Background: Actual Audit cost 2017-2020.

2017

SKT

2018

SKT

2019

Maner

2020

Maner

2021

(Proposed)

$26,494.71 $15,500 $16,399.00 $16,700 $16, 500***

Analysis: Proposed Estimated Fees for Services Maner Gabridge King

2021 $16,500*** $13,885* $14,000**

2022 $17,200*** $14,150* n/a

2023 $17,900*** $14,400* n/a

*Includes State of Michigan Year End Report Filings Upon Request No Additional Charge. ** State Report Filings not included. Additional charges for reports and any Journal Entries. ***Amended. Maner proposal received 2.8.2021. Full proposal distributed to Council

2.8.2021. Page (25) of proposal is attached to agenda packet to reflect estimated hours and fees for services for a three-year contract 2021-2023 for Maner Costerisan.

Tere Onica Village Clerk/Treasurer