 County
Commission Passes Order Regulating Nudity in Adult Cabarets
Constitution-Tribune
Friday, February 12, 2010
CAPTION:
A large crowd of pastors and concerned area residents gathered Thursday afternoon at the Livingston County Courthouse for a county commission meeting involving the passage of an
ordinance to regulate nudity in adult cabarets. All those who spoke during the hearing were in favor of the order and no one spoke in opposition. The commission subsequently passed the ordinance.
C-T Photo/Laura Schuler
Rules are now in place for adult entertainment venues in Livingston County after commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved an
order regulating nudity in adult
cabarets.
Approximately 150 people filed into the circuit courtroom on the third floor of the courthouse for discussion regarding adult businesses. After hearing comments from several members of the public expressing concerns about a proposed strip club planned to open just north of the Chillicothe city limits the commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the order. The order went into effect immediately. No one representing the new business, which is called The Dream Palace, spoke during the meeting.
Adult cabarets, according to the order, is defined as a nightclub, bar, restaurant or similar establishment in which persons appear in a state of nudity in the performance of their duties.
The commissioners stated that the order is to provide standards to regulate the time, place and manner of the operation of adult cabarets in order to minimize their negative secondary effects.
They said passage of the regulations would help reduce possible secondary adverse effects while allowing for alternative means of communication and free expression. Specifically,
the order:
- Requires background
checks to be conducted on all employees and results of the
checks delivered to the sheriff's office prior to each
person's employment
- Sets the age limit
for admission at 21 years of age (produce a state photo
drivers license or a state photo identification card to
verify their age)
- Requires the
presence of security personnel. Uniformed security guards to
patrol and monitor the premises and parking lot areas during
all business hours.
- Requires random
drug testing. Employers of any adult cabaret within the
county shall conduct random testing on a monthly basis for
the presence of illegal substances within the blood or urine
or any or all employees of such adult cabaret. Any
employer/employee of an adult cabaret testing positive for
illegal substances in their blood or urine will be
prohibited from working in an adult cabaret for two
consecutive months and until they have presented certified
proof to the Livingston County Sheriff's Office of a
negative random test for illegal substances.
- Prohibits display
of nudity as defined by the order.
Presiding Commissioner
Eva Danner said the county does not have authority to stop a
business from operating, but does have authority to enact
regulations. She said the order's main focus is on the health,
safety, and welfare of county residents.
Prior to hearing
comments from the public, Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox
announced the regulations governing the public comment period.
Among those speaking were Tim Buerky, Brandi Clark, Lawrence
Booth, James Morgan, David Molina, Bonnie Midgyett, Walter
Miller, Rick McCully, and Brynell Somverville.
A representative of
The Dream Palace could not be reached for comment.
Click
here for the complete Order... (36KB
PDF) |
