CALUMET — Village trustee Virginia Dwyer is the subject of a recall petition by Calumet Village resident Barbara Yannatta. Yannatta filed the petition with the Houghton County Clerk’s Office Thursday morning, for clarity and factual review by the Houghton County Election Committee.

The reason stated on the recall petition reads Virginia A. Dwyer voted nay to a motion made by Trustee Peggy Germain and seconded by then Trustee Jim Camp (to) pass an opt-in ordinance for the Michigan Marijuana law at the Jan. 16, 2018, regular meeting of the Calumet Village Council.

At that meeting, more than 20 people were in attendance, and openly protested the council’s stance on the issue, citing that taking no action on the opt-in law would force the medical marijuana dispensary Zen Garden, owned and operated by Alicia Roundtree, to close.

The position taken by Dwyer and Village President Dave Geisler sparked a disorderly protest in which protesters marched through sections of Calumet, terminating at the homes of the two council members, involving loud shouting. As a result of the protest, Geisler requested a motion from the council to remove Nathan Anderson from the Village Zoning Board of Appeals. The motion passed but not unanimously. Anderson was removed in violation of the Michigan General Law Village Act, which states anyone being considered for removal must first be issued a letter and a dismissal hearing. Dwyer was among the yay votes removing Anderson.

A source involved in the petition filing, who does not have authority to speak on behalf of the petition sponsor, said the reason for the petition stated is just one reason for the decision to circulate the petition.