HERMANN — A comment made last week by a Hermann alderman that an effort is under way to win approval for the retail sales of marijuana in Owensville is incorrect, says an Owensville official.

City Clerk Peggy Farrell told the Gasconade County Republican that Hermann Alderman Jim Schirmer’s comment that was included in a county seat Board of Aldermen story last week is based on a rumor working its way through the community that an effort is taking place to establish a sales outlet for marijuana.

Thus far, Hermann is the only municipality in Gasconade County with a licensed retailer for the now-legal marijuana.

“The City of Owensville does not have an application for a marijuana dispensary or retailer at this time. This is rumor,” Farrell said.

She added that Schirmer’s comment “is just spreading to gossip.” The city clerk noted that a check locally and at the state level does not reveal any application from the local area.

“In reviewing online at the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services the dispensary facility list does not show any in the Owensville ZIP code,” Farrell said.

Schirmer’s comment was made after last week’s aldermanic session during which the representative proposed using revenue from a 3-percent sales tax on marijuana to fund a School Resource Officer on the Gasconade County R-1 School District campus. The city’s proposed sales tax, along with a similar 3-percent sales tax proposed by Gasconade County government, is on the April General Municipal Elections ballot. Owensville also has a 3-percent sales tax on marijuana sales on the ballot, even though there is no retail outlet in operation in the municipality.

Owensville aldermen on Monday agreed with a plan to have their attorney review the city’s ordinance on allowing retail sales of recreational marijuana within city limits.