BudsKind802

BudsKind802 t1_j42c8nc wrote

I usually just use Canadian ATMs to take out cash if needed (taking the hit for the ATM fees, but the exchange rate is fair), but these days there are a number of credit cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees and have similar rates. Just know that you'll be "The American" when you whip out your card for the mobile terminal and they need to swipe it and print out a receipt because the US is chip and signature while most of the rest of the world is chip and PIN.

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BudsKind802 t1_j3ro2bz wrote

Good food locations:

  • Waterworks has nice views of the river both patio and inside.

  • Trapp Family Lodge and the Trapp Family Dining room have some great views of their property. Be aware the dining room had a dress code the last time I went.

  • Michael's on the Hill has a nice view of Waterbury.

Less good food locations:

  • The Shanty has nice views of Lake Champlain.

  • Many of the larger ski resorts have restaurants near the base that are open to the public. Stowe has a nice cafe at Spruce peak.

  • Skinny pancake in Burlington looks out on the lake.

  • Bayside Pavilion in St Albans is also right on the lake

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BudsKind802 t1_j3mcz13 wrote

To correct the record, the Development Review Board turned down his application for a not-so-small shop that was going to do a heck of a lot more than repairs, including having semis blocking the 2 lane and steep Rt 128 to drop off spools full of metal wiring for recycling. He was not up front or honest about all of the uses when he filed his application.

His application and appeals were turned down by the whole board, not one dude who didn't want to compete. If he had proposed his business for a different site like the growth centers of the town with better utilities and roads, he probably would have been approved. Decisions like that can't be vetoed.

Lastly, he had to be removed from the DRB meetings for threatening the board members when he didn't get his way, like a child.

There was no corruption involved with Mr. Pelkey, he's just a jerk.

(Note: I'm not a member of the DRB board, but witnessed this asshole's threats to the board and chair while I was waiting for my own project to be reviewed.)

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BudsKind802 t1_j38aihg wrote

I bought a 15kW propane Generac a few years ago, and there's a couple things to consider....

I would recommend going with a professional. If your neighbor helps hook it up directly to your power without a transfer switch, you're gonna have a bad time.

That professional can help you size the right generator, and the right fuel amount needed to run it. I use some big electric heat pumps, well water, etc etc for electric and already had propane water and stove and so I ended up upgrading to 300 gallon tanks. Propane lasts a long time so I don't have to refill the tanks more than once a year.

Run time is important. If you're OK having a few day's worth of backup, batteries are fine. We just lost power for 5 days and the propane lasted me the whole time. My neighbor's powerwall made it 3 days.

Price is also important. Batteries will run you less money in the short term, although they may have a shorter life than a generator with the wear if you have multiple outages per year. For my generator setup I paid about $12k for installation, propane work, electrical work, and the generator.

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BudsKind802 t1_j32s51q wrote

Based on what Massachusetts's journey looked like, the prices won't start to come down until there's enough product coming in from growers, as our retailers can only source their supply from VT growers. Since the control board has been really slow to grant cultivation licenses and fucked up the whole outdoor grow season licenses, I'd expect another year of high prices.

As far as the glut of dispensaries, they'll sugar out in the short run as the market dictates.

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BudsKind802 t1_j32l0o1 wrote

There's a 14% excise tax by the state, which made nearly $330k in the first month of legal sales. That money first goes to the VT cannabis control board's budget to backfill costs. After that, 70% goes to the state general fund and 30% goes to substance misuse and prevention.

The VT standard 6% sales tax also made $144k in the first month. That goes to afterschool and summer learning programs.

> lower our income and property tax rates

Property tax is town-based, so a town could add an extra 1% tax to be able to fund some taxes and potential tax relief, but based on the current sales numbers they'd only be making a few thousand for their towns per month.

As far as property tax relief, that's going to be a no. It's a different "bucket" than the general fund.

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BudsKind802 t1_j25pyaw wrote

There's smart growth, which aims to concentrate growth in city/town centers and preserve the rural characteristics as much as possible.

And then there's zero growth, where for every baby born or out of state relocations, someone will be executed according to a lottery like in that short story, I think it was called PowerBalls or something like that.

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BudsKind802 OP t1_j159srk wrote

I'll find out. If I don't report back in a week, you'll know it's a Fed front

EDIT: I had to take a picture of my license and another with me holding up my license. A little weird for verifying the age of their customers.

I also was able to pay for it using a credit card. Usually cannabis businesses cannot take credit cards due to Federal prohibition. That's what makes me nervous but 10 minutes in and the Feds haven't come knocking yet. At least if it's a scam I can get my money back.

The sketchiest part so far is that their customer service uses some gmail address.

EDIT 2: My card was charged by packaginggod[dot]com, which looks like they sell containers for cannabis. I don't see how the companies are related.

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