WAYNESVILLE, MO — At the U.S. Army’s Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri, you can receive training in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) identification and detection, learn how to become an “Explosive Ordinance Clearance Agent,” or learn the art of “highly accurate and effective neutralization of hostile targets in special threat situations.”One thing you should not be able to do as a soldier stationed Ft. Leonard Wood, some local activists contend, is frequent Big Louie’s strip club, a local landmark located just off Interstate 44.
In addition to maintaining Big Louie’s position on the Ft. Leonard Wood list of local businesses that are off-limits to soldiers, the Pulaski County Christian Ministerial Alliance (CMA) wants to make sure that County Commissioners don’t follow through on a proposal to establish an adult entertainment tax, the revenue from which would be used to fund local law enforcement.
At a meeting yesterday of the Pulaski County Commissioners, Pastor Judi Tillett of the CMA spoke out against the tax, arguing instead that the County should adopt an ordinance proposed and authored by the CMA, itself.
“I’m concerned it [the tax] will give credibility to them [adult businesses] and that’s something I am going to continue to fight,” said Tillet, according to the Waynesville Daily Guide.
Tillet also disputed a rumor that had been circulating in the area that Big Louie’s owner Louie Keen has struck a behind-the-scenes deal with Pulaski County Sheriff J.B. King to remove the club from the list of businesses that are off-limits to soldiers from Ft. Leonard Wood.
“I did talk to J.B. King and he said that he did not negotiate a promise that if they were opened back up [deputies] would be out there every night,” Tillett said. “That’s a rumor running through the county and I don’t want to give credibility to it.”
Presiding Commissioner Bill Ransdall, however, said that he had verified that the county is incurring added costs for law enforcement related to adult businesses in the area, Big Louie’s in particular.
According to the Daily Guide, deputies currently are performing patrols for approximately one hour every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, when the club is busiest.
“I asked (Sheriff King) how many calls he is having out there and he said he’s not having many,” Ransdall said Thursday. “Then I asked him how many calls he had compared to everyone else and he said more than that.”
Randall argued that, even if Big Louie’s is not generating a high volume of calls, the club still has “more than any other facilities,” and that without the presence of deputies the club would “probably be off limits again,” meaning that the county is “providing a service to them that goes above and beyond [services provided to others].”
Noting that while banks and other businesses may occasionally ask for police escorts or other such services, Randall said there are no other businesses for which police provide security, without added compensation, on a regular basis.
“Right now those people could be patrolling a county road or trying to catch a thief, but I feel we are providing a service so they can stay open,” Ransdall said.
Commissioner Dennis Thornsberry said he has asked repeatedly for a legal opinion from former county prosecutor Laura Kriebs as to whether the CMA’s proposal is legally sound, or if it might expose the county to lawsuits.
“I can tell you that I asked two or three times for the previous prosecuting attorney to send it on to the attorney general for an opinion and I got nothing,” Thornsberry said..
Mike Dunbar of the CMA stated that he understood the County Commissioners were on the side of the CMA, and not Big Louie’s.
“Let me say on behalf of the Alliance we appreciate you revisiting the ordinance,” Dunbar said, according to the Daily Guide. “The truth is we understand the commission supports this but wants to make sure you have the legal authority to pass this ordinance.”
The commissioners agreed to again ask for a legal opinion on the CMA proposal, this time posing the question to new prosecuting attorney Deborah Hooper. Ransdall said he understands that Hooper will likely refer the question to the Missouri Attorney General, Jay Nixon, but said the commission is required to go through Hooper rather than asking Nixon directly.
