It was almost three years ago that the Detroit Lakes City Council shot down a proposed ordinance to raise the minimum tobacco sales age to 21 within city limits, by voting not to give the ordinance a first reading.
But once President Donald Trump signed legislation this past December to raise the federal minimum age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21 years, it became inevitable that cities across the United States would do the same.
At the Tuesday, March 10, City Council meeting, the motion to give a first reading to an ordinance to raise the age for tobacco sales was passed by unanimous vote.
Unlike the 2017 public hearing on the Tobacco 21 ordinance, when people on both sides of the issue gave more than two hours of passionate testimony, Tuesday's hearing drew no comments from the public at all.
A second reading and passage of the new ordinance into law is expected at the council's April 14 meeting.
ADVERTISEMENT
Also at Tuesday's meeting, the council:
- Approved a site host agreement with ZEF Energy for installation of the
first electric vehicle charging stations in Detroit Lakes
. The company will be installing and operating one electric vehicle charging hub in the municipally owned parking lot adjacent to Veterans Memorial Parkway. There will be four parking spaces assigned specifically to provide access to the charging hub, including one handicap-accessible space with accompanying access lane.
- Congratulated City Finance Officer Pam Slifka on her upcoming retirement. Slifka, who has been with the city for nine years, will be retiring from her position at the end of March.
- Approved a funding request from the Boys & Girls Club of Detroit Lakes. The city will be providing an additional $10,000 per year to the club to offset increased monthly utility costs for its new facility since it opened last September. Their utility costs have virtually doubled from what they paid in their old building.
