HERMANN — Legislation regulating personal use of marijuana within Hermann has received first-round approval.

The Hermann Board of Aldermen Monday night gave initial approval to the proposed ordinance aimed at bringing the city’s regulation of marijuana use in line with the provisions of Amendment 3, which voters statewide adopted in November. The restrictive measure could win final approval at the board’s May 22 session.

Personal marijuana possession or use is prohibited in public and private places, such as schools, a school bus and any commercial or public place. The measure prohibits the use of marijuana while operating any motorized vehicle — perhaps including, as one alderman pointed out, small motorized scooters that are growing in popularity among visitors to Hermann and other area towns. But Police Chief Marlon Walker said he is unsure how enforcement regarding scooter operation would be treated.

“Something like that we have to run by the prosecutors,” the chief said. “I don’t know where they would stand on that.”

The bill also would make it illegal for a passenger in any motorized vehicle to smoke marijuana while the vehicle is being operated. Marijuana use would be prohibited in any location where smoking tobacco is prohibited.

The bill also contains provisions covering the public nuisance aspect of marijuana use and production, such as the odor from marijuana being smoked to the glare of lights resulting from the cultivation of marijuana plants that might encroach on neighboring property.

Bridge rehabilitation project

Also Monday night the aldermen approved an ordinance that clears the way for a rehabilitation of the Frene Creek bridge on Market Street by the Missouri Department of Transportation. The legislation, which was given first- and second-round approvals, sets out the city’s share of $74,800 for cosmetic work and sanitary sewer work, which involves a sewer main line attached to the bridge. The state will pay $1.580 million for improvements to the bridge and highway.

City Administrator Patricia Heaney said MoDOT has not given a specific time for the project, but that it will be included in the agency’s 2024 projects.

City Attorney Dave Politte reported that the application documents for the proposed Port Authority in Montgomery County has been received for review by City Hall and that they do not include “what we’ve been calling a ‘cooperative agreement.’”

He said he is waiting to hear from economic development consultant Steve Etcher regarding the documents. Etcher, who is working with the Montgomery County Economic Council in the effort to win state approval of a Port Authority, is Hermann’s primary contact regarding the project.

City officials have voiced support in making Hermann part of the proposed Port Authority but have delayed acting on a formal resolution until it has studied the application documents.

At the outset of Monday night’s session, the aldermen approved two Conditional Use Permits that allow outdoor liquor consumption at two businesses — Seek Coffee, 219 E. First Street, and Zydeco, 112 E. Fifth Street.

The BOA also approved permits for a variety of activities set for the coming weeks and months, including the annual Midwest Blue Oval Club car show set for Aug. 11 and 12. Classic and new Ford vehicles are displayed on various downtown streets during the show.

The board also approved the hiring of Gavin Hackmann as a lifeguard for this year’s swimming pool season. Heaney at an earlier session noted that Hermann is fortunate to have hired a full complement of lifeguards, adding that other towns in the region are struggling to open their swimming pools because of the difficulty in finding workers.