Appeals from competing marijuana dispensaries lit up the Ronan City Council meeting on June 11.

The discussion began with information provided by city attorney Ben Anciaux. Two entities are in the process of applying for dispensary licenses in Ronan prior to July 1, when the number of marijuana outlets in the state will be frozen.  

Since Ronan’s ordinance allows one dispensary for every 1,000 people, a choice will need to be made, Anciaux said.

Sam Rockwell-Shear, spoke for The Hi-Line Company, which has dispensaries in Ronana, Polson, Kalispell, Missoula and Chinook. He asked the council for an emergency resolution to limit the number of dispensaries in Ronan. 

One of his business partners, Chuck Holman representing Integrity Farms in Chinook, said he was interested in opening a dispensary on the north end of the Hi-Line building, located on Hwy. 93.

The other applicant, Jim Solomon of Lolo, said he and his wife, Deidre, have been involved with the application process for two weeks and complained that the city hadn’t been able to provide them with an application form.

City Clerk Kayleen Melton said she believes an application form exists, and vowed to try to find it.

If licensed, the Solomans plan to locate their dispensary in Lloyd Ingraham’s former law office, located just north of Hi-Line’s dispensary on Hwy. 93. He expressed opposition to Rockwell-Shear’s proposal of an emergency resolution to limit the number of dispensaries, and said he thinks Hi-Line is seeking to monopolize the business in Ronan.

Mayor Chris Adler said that once applications have been submitted, they’ll be sent to the state. He said the issue will also be on the agenda for the next meeting on June 25.

An agenda item for discussion and a vote on resolution 2025-07, requesting annexation of a five-acre parcel by Life for the Nation Church, was tabled until the next meeting.

The church is working with Hope Center Ministries, a 12-month faith-based addiction facility that includes vocational training.

The Hope House would located on two-acres of the property and owned by Hope House Ministries. The Life of Nations Church would own the other six lots and plans to build fourplexes on them. The first step is annexation.

The council members wanted more time and information on tax issues before they passed the resolution.

Chamber of Commerce representative Whitney Liegakos asked the council for permission to complete the informational kiosks along the path in Ronan City Park. Funds for the project were donated by an anonymous donor. The council approved the request unanimously.

In other business, council members voted to:

• Appoint Willard Moore to the Police Commission to finish out Chris Atkinson’s term which will end on May 31, 2027.

• Approve an open container permit for St.Luke’s for an end-of-summer BBQ at the pavilion in the Ronan City Park on Aug. 27 from 5-9 p.m.

• Approve Trey Sinclair as assistant public works director.