By Austin Williams
The Wamac City Council gave its approval Tuesday night to the establishment of a cannabis grow facility in an existing property by Emerald Valley Industries, following the recommendation of the zoning board. The facility in the 1700 block of South Brookside in Wamac will not act as a dispensary but will transport its products to dispensaries within the state of Illinois. The property still needs to undergo renovations before it can begin use as a growing environment. With this approval by the board, that renovation process can begin.
Emerald Valley CEO Dameon Johnson spoke to the board about the company’s plans for the project. He is confident that once renovations on the property are completed it will be a clean, safe, and secure growing facility. Johnson explained why he felt Wamac and Centralia were a good fit for the project.
“We’re looking for communities that are away from a lot of residential, more densely populated areas… having sites like this in a smaller community kind of gives everybody a sense of ownership, that they’re helping to establish new industry in their communities.”
Reverend Don Smith, giving comment opposing the project, asked the council what the city would collect in taxes from the facility. Mayor Butch Mathus confirmed that because the facility would not be selling its product in Wamac the city would not collect sales tax, so direct revenue from the facility would be limited to utility payments and property tax.
The council also accepted the resignation of Donna Dodson from the zoning board, approved the employment of Ricky Francois as a full-time patrolman, and approved the purchase of Christmas decorations from Central City for five hundred dollars.
Reverend Don Smith expresses his opposition to the Cannabis Grow Facility. Photo by Austin Williams.
