MCDONALD — While larger neighboring communities such as Girard and Niles are planning to allow recreational marijuana facilities in their cities, McDonald officials are saying “no” to them because of the village’s smaller size.

Village council on Wednesday gave first reading to prohibiting recreational marijuana dispensaries in the village limits.

McDonald Mayor Ray Lewis said the village also prohibits medical marijuana dispensaries, which has been on the books since 2017.

Police Lt. Ryan Ronghi said such dispensaries will be showing up in other nearby locations. “I do not believe it would be a good idea to have such dispensaries in the village. Banking would be an issue,” he said. The village has no bank, so someone from the business would have to make a deposit in another community, which could make them a target for robbery.

Lewis said such establishments are often targets for robberies, noting gLeaf in Warren was recently vandalized.

Ronghi said Girard and Niles have passed legislation supporting the recreational marijuana facilities. Warren City Council on Wednesday discussed passing legislation in September to allow up to three dispensaries in the city limits.

DAM REMOVAL

In other business, Lewis said he has spoken to representatives of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments about their plans to remove the dam under the Girard-McDonald viaduct by the former McDonald Steel.

He said Eastgate is planning to remove the dams along the Mahoning River with the one in McDonald and Girard and one in Leavittsburg all that remain in Trumbull County. Plans are for the dam’s removal to create greenspace but also not affect any commercial business that may need the dam.

If a business does need the dam, Eastgate will have a water pump station installed to help the business store water. Lewis said McDonald Steel used to use the dam, but the company has since closed.

“This dam and Leavittsburg are the only ones left. There is a comprehensive plan to remove all the dams,” he said.

The Summit Street dam in Warren is being taken down this year.

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