April 3, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Talk of the Town with Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges

Every week we ask a village or school official three questions. This week we spoke to St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges about the legalization of marijuana within the state of Illinois.


This post is sponsored by St. Joseph Siding and Window.


Does your zoning currently allow a marijuana dispensary to open within the village?

Currently, the village doesn’t have any kind of zoning in place to help regulate where or how marijuana could be sold in the village.  The village zoning is very much out of date and legalized marijuana was unheard of when these zoning regulations were put into place.  So technically, if marijuana was legal today, the village would not have any zoning to determine where that business could locate and a dispensary could open anywhere in our commercial or downtown districts.  

What are some concerns you have regarding the legalization of marijuana in the state of Illinois?

A few concerns that I have as the Village President and a member of this community is the possible increase in driving under the influence, easier access to our youth, the long term effects to our youth, how to regulate use in public places, how to deal with legal use and employees especially those who operate equipment, accidental exposure to pets and children, and the overall impact on society already struggling to help those with substance abuse problems and mental illness issues. 

There is conflicting information from both sides of the issue of legal recreational marijuana. 

Law enforcement and many medical professionals have concerns going forward. 

The village board will have to decide whether or not we will welcome a business that sells marijuana or opt out.  We are waiting to get some guidelines for those regulations from the Illinois Municipal League and the decision will have to be made with caution.  Most community members that have spoken to me about the issue have not been in favor of any kind of marijuana being sold in the village.  

3.  Do you think a business like this would be successful in the village considering the make up of residents and the fact that most residents work in town?

St. Joseph is a bedroom community with people wanting to live here because of our small town values, great schools, safe environment and easy access to the bigger cities. 

A business selling marijuana in the village doesn’t seem to be a good fit for the majority of our residents and most likely would have a hard time competing with the larger cities.  Most of our residents work outside of the village and those who want to be marijuana consumers will most likely make those purchases outside of the community as well.  

The Village Trustees have not had the opportunity to have any kind of in depth discussion about the issue at this time and these thoughts are strictly mine.  While serving the Village of St. Joseph as a trustee and now as the Mayor I have always done so with passion for the village and it’s residents to hopefully make good decisions that will make our community the best it can be!

Banner
Related Posts

Sewer rate increase to take place in May

April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023

St. Joseph residents can expect a sewer rate increase in May. Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges said the rate increase is going...

Mayor discusses administrators pay increase

December 18, 2024

December 18, 2024

The Village Administrator of St. Joseph is getting a raise. The annual salary for the position will be increased to...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, September 27

September 27, 2022

September 27, 2022

I am here so you don’t have to be. MX electric sponsors our live blogs. SO if you have an...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Oct. 10, 2023

October 10, 2023

October 10, 2023

I am here so you don’t have to be. Don’t forget you can watch the board meeting on Youtube here....

Library releases statement about TIF

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

The St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library Board of Directors thought this was important information you should know about the village...

Vendor profile: That Little Farm in the Country

August 8, 2024

August 8, 2024

Tell me about your business.That Little Farm in the Country is a small business in Sidney. I design and sell...

White Christmas on tap for area

December 23, 2022

December 23, 2022

This Christmas could be special weather-wise. Steve Hilberg, the Retired, Director of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, said this won’t...

SJO soccer to have new home in 2023, while issues arise about current field maintenance

July 14, 2022

July 14, 2022

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team is set to have a new home field for the 2023 season. SJO...

Remembering B.J. Hackler: ‘He made people smile’

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

B.J. Hackler liked to stay busy. He belonged to the St. Joseph Tea-Totalers, a group of residents who meet in...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, March 11, 2025

March 11, 2025

March 11, 2025

We are live so you don’t have to be. Thanks to MX Electric for sponsoring our live blogs. No public...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Aug. 23, 2022

August 23, 2022

August 23, 2022

I am here with five people in the audience. #hugecrowd Plus, the usual Mr. Sennert doing IT and Mr. Miller...

Live at Ogden Village Board, May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

Dollar General is here to talk about what their new store layout will look like on the Pink Pig land....

Ogden mayor resigns effective Nov. 1

October 26, 2023

October 26, 2023

Gabe Clements has resigned as the mayor of Ogden effective Nov. 1. ,In his resignation letter to the Village Board,...

Hometown appeal: The Wheelhouse earns Business of the Year honors

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

When the Wheelhouse opened in 2017, it was unlike anything in St. Joseph. And still is. The farm-to-table restaurant owned...

Live Blog for April 27, 2021

April 27, 2021

April 27, 2021

I am here at St. Joseph Village Board.No one else is here besides IT Guru Mike Sennert.May 5 is bike...

Comments
Leave a Reply