COLUMBUS, KS — The owner of an adult video store in Columbus, KS, says he’s ready to fight the county over licensing requirements enacted after his business opened.Terry Sims said Cherokee County should not be allowed to impose retroactive restrictions that didn’t even occur to officials until after he opened Terry’s Outlet in June 2008. County Commissioners passed the sexually oriented business in October, and it took effect January 1st.
Sims and the owners and employees of the county’s two other adult entertainment establishments have until late April to comply with the new regulations, which require criminal background checks. Business owners must pay a $1,000 annual licensing fee, managers and performers are required to pay $250 each, and other employees must fork over $100 annually. Licenses can be denied to anyone who has been convicted of a sex crime or any crime involving drugs, alcohol or obscenity.
In addition, the new ordinance prohibits nudity at strip clubs (which the other two Cherokee County adult businesses happen to be) and requires a six-foot marked boundary between performers and patrons. Patrons are not allowed to tip performers unless they place money in the performer’s hand when she’s off-stage and fully clothed. Alternatively, they may place tips in containers outside the six-foot boundary.
Although an attorney representing one of the cabarets said similar regulations in other parts of the state haven’t hurt adult businesses, Sims said the whole idea galls him.
“I’ll not be railroaded into a license,” he told The Joplin [MO] Globe. “I guess it will just have to come up in court. I’ve got money to fight them, I damn well guarantee you.”
County Counselor Kevin Cure said the county is equally determined not to back down.
“The county will be prepared to enforce the ordinance,” he told The Joplin Globe, adding that the liquor license belonging to one of the cabarets is up for state renewal in April, and the club may have a hard time with liquor control authorities if it doesn’t obtain a county business license.
The other Cherokee County gentlemen’s club doesn’t sell alcoholic beverages.
