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With Sumner County now having a foot print in the gambling scene, other types of businesses could possibly start showing up in the area. Just before the new year, the Sumner County Commissioners, along with other County agencies, wanted to make sure they were prepared.
"We felt we wanted to kind of tie up any loose ends that we had on our sexual orientated business, or adult entertainment regulations," said John Bristor, Director of Sumner County Planning and Zoning.
On Dec. 27, The Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 2011-60. The resolution established licensing requirements and regulations for sexually oriented businesses within Sumner County.
"About a year ago we looked at our zoning regulations, for our adult entertainment district which is C-5," Bristor said. "After we looked at it, we felt that it needed altering. We weren't sure what direction we were going to go." The County reached out to attorney, Scott Bergthold, of Chattanooga, Tenn. Bergthold recently assisted Jefferson County, Kan. with similar issues.
According to the lawyer's website, his law office is a national practice focused on the drafting and defense of municipal adult business regulations along with aiding cities and counties with sexually oriented business matters.
'Basically he looked over what we had and modeled [new regulations] off of what he did in Jefferson County, with some alterations," Bristor explained. A call to Bergthold's office was not returned by the time of publication.
If someone wants to open a "sexually orientated business" in Sumner County, the will have to follow the guidelines set forth by the County. A segment of the resolution reads as follows:
"... the County intends to regulate such businesses as sexually oriented businesses through a narrowly tailored ordinance designed to serve the substantial government interest in preventing the negative secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses..."
The Resolution aims to cut down on crime and indecency that is associated with the adult entertainment industry.
"The licensing talks about how it won't be full-nude, it won't be hands-on, and also no alcohol is allowed in there," Bristor continued. "...Lastly, each business owner and employee will go through a background check with the Sheriff's office to make sure they're not criminals." During the year-long process, it was brought up to ban such businesses from the County completely.
With Sumner County now having a foot print in the gambling scene, other types of businesses could possibly start showing up in the area. Just before the new year, the Sumner County Commissioners, along with other County agencies, wanted to make sure they were prepared.
"We felt we wanted to kind of tie up any loose ends that we had on our sexual orientated business, or adult entertainment regulations," said John Bristor, Director of Sumner County Planning and Zoning.
On Dec. 27, The Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 2011-60. The resolution established licensing requirements and regulations for sexually oriented businesses within Sumner County.
"About a year ago we looked at our zoning regulations, for our adult entertainment district which is C-5," Bristor said. "After we looked at it, we felt that it needed altering. We weren't sure what direction we were going to go." The County reached out to attorney, Scott Bergthold, of Chattanooga, Tenn. Bergthold recently assisted Jefferson County, Kan. with similar issues.
According to the lawyer's website, his law office is a national practice focused on the drafting and defense of municipal adult business regulations along with aiding cities and counties with sexually oriented business matters.
'Basically he looked over what we had and modeled [new regulations] off of what he did in Jefferson County, with some alterations," Bristor explained. A call to Bergthold's office was not returned by the time of publication.
If someone wants to open a "sexually orientated business" in Sumner County, the will have to follow the guidelines set forth by the County. A segment of the resolution reads as follows:
"... the County intends to regulate such businesses as sexually oriented businesses through a narrowly tailored ordinance designed to serve the substantial government interest in preventing the negative secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses..."
The Resolution aims to cut down on crime and indecency that is associated with the adult entertainment industry.
"The licensing talks about how it won't be full-nude, it won't be hands-on, and also no alcohol is allowed in there," Bristor continued. "...Lastly, each business owner and employee will go through a background check with the Sheriff's office to make sure they're not criminals." During the year-long process, it was brought up to ban such businesses from the County completely.
"Well, we can't do that," Bristor explained. "There's freedom of speech and different things. Can the businesses be regulated in this fashion...?...Yes." Even with the passing of Resolution 2011-60, there is still more for The County and it's agencies to look into regarding sexually orientated businesses.
"The next step is we are going to alter our zoning regulations a little bit as well," Bristor mentioned. "I would say that will happen within the next 90 days." The County is thinking ahead in case someone wants to open such an establishment.
"Can someone come up and go through the process to get licensed? The answer is yes," Bristor added. "...But we have not had any applicants."
