I am amazed at the hypocrisy of the City Council at their last meeting in regards to the appeal filed by Currier LLC. Did they even discuss and agree amongst themselves the criteria for the application process? It sure was apparent that this didn’t happen as they could not agree on the intention of their ordinances, or even what the appeals process was meant to do. Was it simply to clarify information in the application? To award more points? They did not even know what the criteria that the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the state regulatory agency that oversees marijuana dispensaries, deemed necessary to submit an application for licensure.

Do they even know that the City of Alpena mission statement says: In the interest of common good, the City of Alpena’s mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Northeast Michigan; work cooperatively with the Alpena residents and the business community; and to foster excellence in municipal services through their delivery in a manner which is reliable and responsive to the needs of the taxpayers and to creatively provide efficient and cost-effective public services to all.

Are the Curriers not tax paying citizens who have lived in the community for decades? Does Dr. Currier not own a business here that provides a necessary service to community members? As Dr. Currier himself stated, he has helped people acquire their medical marijuana cards, and this dispensary ties into the medical treatment for patients he sees in his practice, with whom he has built a relationship of trust. With this decision it is clear that the council falls pitifully short of its mission statement.

MARY JO SCHULTZ,

Presque Isle Township