SIDNEY — Council voted to amend the zoning code to prohibit the dispensing, cultivation and processing of medical marijuana in Sidney during its meeting Monday night.

The prohibiting ordinance passed by a 4-3 vote. Council members Darryl Thurber, Steve Wagner and Vice Mayor Mardie Milligan voted no.

“Because (medical marijuana) is an approved drug in the state of Ohio, I think we should be allowing it to be sold for medicinal purposes. And most of the people I talked to in my area, had no problem. I’m sure there are some that do, but the ones I talked to, did not,” Milligan said.

Thurber said he feels medical marijuana could be an alternative for pain patients and could lessen overdoses in Sidney.

Wagner said, “I am not in favor of cultivation or processing, but I am in favor of dispensing (medical marijuana). And to reiterate what I said two weeks ago, I feel we are doing the residents a disservice by making them travel for something that could be medically prescribed.”

According to the city’s interpretation of the the zoning code, it’s purpose is to promote the public health, safety, comfort, and welfare of Sidney residents. Community Services Director Barbara Dulworth said, the code regulates the use of land, buildings, structures and premises in the city.

“In order to either permit or prohibit the medical marijuana services … the uses must either be listed as a permitted in one or more zoning districts, or listed as a prohibited use,” Dulworth said.

She said it is difficult to predict medical marijuana’s “potential impact versus benefit” because the state advisory board has not completed the rules governing it, and because there is no documentation of its impact in Ohio. If the city wants to allow one of more uses of medical marijuana later, the zoning code can be amended, she said.

Also an ordinance was adopted to amend the traffic control map to establish a no-parking zone in front of Whittier School on the south side of Belmont Street, between Broadway and East Avenues.

Whittier School requested the no-parking zone to ensure the safe and smooth drop-off and pick-up process of students, Monday through Friday, from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. The school has agreed to pay for the no-parking signs.

Council member Joe Ratermann asked if cars parked illegally there could be towed. Law Director Jeffrey Amick said vehicles can be towed, if it is posted properly.

Council was introduced to two ordinances for making supplemental appropriations for 2017 and to assess the cost of repairs of dangerous buildings.

Finance Officer Ginger Adams said in response to a reduction of income tax revenue, the supplemental appropriations of various funds would decrease 2017 appropriations by $2,695,287.

Dulworth said the city took action to make two dangerous buildings safer for the public.

In March, the city demolished an unsupported wall and installed fencing along the Wilkinson Street side of the Wagner Ware building, located at 440 Fair Road, at the cost of $25,995. In December 2016, the building’s owner was notified and given 30 days to comply before contractor’s bid on the job. Two invoices have been sent with no payment received from the owner.

In April, the city received a complaint about window glass falling from the upper stories of the property at 116 W. Poplar St. An inspector found one sash on the third floor has lost part of the glass with the remaining glass hanging, which posed an immediate danger to pedestrians on the sidewalk. The building’s owner was contacted but said he couldn’t take immediate action, so the fire department removed the hanging glass and checked for other loose glass. The owner was told to board up the window and was billed $369.24 for labor and equipment hours. He has been invoiced twice, but no payment has been received.

Both introduced ordinances will return to council for further consideration on Aug. 14.

Also, council adopted a resolution accepting the Shreves replot of two lots to create one new lot at 127 W. Parkwood St. in the single family residence district. The replat is currently developed as a single family dwelling. Dulworth said after the original lots were platted, everything was shifted so that almost every house in the area is also on a portion of an adjacent lot. She said the development and shifting of the lots occurred before her time with the city.

Council observed silence, after a brief discussion on the liquor permit requests of Chipotle Mexican Grill and Wingers. City Manager Mark Cundiff told council after a review of liquor permit holders was completed by the Sidney Police Department, nothing was found to object to the renewal of permits. Council’s silence on the matter indicated consent for permit holders to move forward.