NORWAY — The Norway City Council on Monday passed a resolution detailing the process for accepting, evaluating and approving applications to operate marijuana businesses within city limits.

The resolution was removed from the June 21 agenda after the council struck growing facilities and microbusinesses from its marijuana ordinance, as the resolution contained several references to such operations. Additionally, the city needed more time to refine the rubric for evaluating the businesses.

The city is allowing up to two processors and retailers.

The council approved the rewritten resolution 3-2, with Mayor Candy Brew and council member Bret Kraemer opposed.

“At this time, I’m not for the marijuana business,” Brew said.

Brew said her decision was difficult and apologized to the public, the council and city attorney Grant Carlson for reversing her earlier position.

While Michigan voters in 2018 approved recreational marijuana sales, Norway citizens voted against the move, 641 no to 541 yes. The council cited that opposition in passing an ordinance in December 2018 to forbid marijuana businesses in Norway

But the council revisited its decision Dec. 7, with Brew, council members Jeff Muraro and Scott Popp and former member Jeremy Oja voting to amend the ordinance.

The council adopted the amended ordinance allowing marijuana facilities May 3 on a 4-1 vote, with Kraemer opposed.

Brew told The Daily News though she was not against marijuana, the ever-evolving nature of the highly regulated industry made her uncomfortable with her original vote.

“There’s so many unknowns. Even though we waited on it, there’s still a lot of unknowns out there,” Brew said, adding the staff time involved for the licensing process was a factor as well.

Among other things, the 10-page policy states in order to be considered for a city-approved license for adult use marijuana establishments, applicants must include a $1,500 non-refundable fee. The annual license fee is $5,000.

The city will accept applications from Aug. 3 to Sept. 24. A three-member scoring committee appointed by the city manager will sort, review and score applications.

The rubric has multiple categories, including qualifications, operational abilities, security plans and economic impact, with 73 being the highest possible score.

Any tie among applicants would be resolved by a blind lottery draw.

The scoring committee will notify disqualified applicants in writing and include the reason for their disqualification. Applicants can reapply when the city accepts new applications.

In other business, the council:

— Approved a $4,198.37 change order for a new bucket truck, bringing the total price to $242,168.39. The change order covers a 12-inch height reduction to allow the truck to meet height restrictions on the highway and pass under railway bridges.

— Passed two resolutions authorizing Brew and City Clerk Trisha Plante to do collective bargaining agreements between the city and the Norway Police Officers Association as well as the Norway City Employees American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local Chapter 1176. The agreements cover wages, hours and conditions of employment through June 30, 2024.

— Also passed a resolution setting pay rates for non-union employees for the fiscal year 2021-22. In accordance with a collective bargaining agreement for a 3% increase, the annual salary for the city manager was raised to $96,000, the police chief’s salary to $72,332 and the city assessor’s salary to $15,992. Annual salaries for the fire chief and assistant fire chief will remain at $6,500 and $5,000, respectively.

— Tabled a motion to approve an agreement between the city and the Norway Diamonds Board on managing the Marion Park baseballs fields and concession stand to allow council members time to learn about the organization’s structure.

Because of technical problems, the council meeting will not broadcast on local Channel 7 or be uploaded to the city’s YouTube channel, as the recording is lost, City Manager Ray Anderson told The Daily News. The audiovisual equipment is 20 years old and should be replaced, though information technology personnel were searching for a temporary solution for the next council meeting, Anderson said.

Brian Christensen can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or bchristensen@ironmountaindailynews.com.