MT. VERNON — Opinions were a plenty at the Mt. Vernon City Council meeting Monday night. The council approved a second reading of two different ordinances. One amending the zoning for cannabis related businesses and the other amending license, classifications, permits, and fees on liquor sales.

The cannabis ordinance allows the city to have a say in the location of any dispensary business that comes to town. Mt. Vernon Mayor John Lewis says the decision to pass the ordinance was made to give the city as much control over the inevitable event of dispensaries either being in Mt. Vernon or surrounding communities.

The ordinance passed with a vote of 4-1 with Councilman Jim Rippy voting “no”. Councilman Donte Moore implored to the citizens present at the meeting that this cannabis ordinance also allows them a chance to demonstrate not only in front of the council, if and when a dispensary comes to town; but also in front of the Zoning Board when they have their meeting on any potential dispensary locations.

The alcohol ordinance also passed with a vote of 4-1. Councilman Moore says the ordinance essentially just creates uniformity across the board for liquor laws.

This uniformity of the rules included allowing AMC Theaters to sell alcohol. This did not sit well with opponents to the ordinance, many of which spoke at the meeting.

Councilman Moore didn’t question the validity of the outcry against liquor sales at AMC, just the timing.

Councilman Ray Botch closed the alcohol ordinance discussion by asking Mt. Vernon Police Chief Trent Page if he could foresee any issues with alcohol sales at AMC to which Chief Page said, “no”.

Some photos of those in attendance speaking against the ordinances.