Cumberland County Board members Tuesday offered an explicit "not welcome" message to any developers of strip joints, exotic dance clubs or any other sexually oriented businesses.
By a unanimous vote, the board members approved provisions that would prohibit any businesses involved in sex-related activity from opening within 1,000 feet of residences in the county and charge $2,500 in licensing in addition to county liquor licenses.
The action was in response to concerns that the former Pioneer School in Neoga Township might be turned into a "gentlemen’s club" with alcohol consumption and possibly sexually suggestive dancing or stripping.
Cumberland County State’s Attorney Barry Schaefer cautioned the board members that the ordinance cannot ban outright such businesses because of First Amendment protections, only set up regulations making it harder to operate in the county. The ordinance, submitted by the state’s attorney, is modeled after one enacted by the city of Effingham to prevent sexually oriented businesses from taking root there.
About 20 county residents present during Tuesday night’s meeting urged the county board to act that night before any establishment opened.
"This is something we can’t allow to happen,tiffany earrings clearance," said Don Traub, who lives near the former elementary school site. "We’ve got a great county here. We just need to keep it clean."
Glenna Henderson,tiffany watche, a Neoga Township resident, had worked with others to gather 100 signatures calling for county action against a proposed club in the old school building, which was sold at auction several years ago.
County board members did not want to delay action and watch something open in the building,discount tiffany necklaces, thereby making it extremely tough to close down, they said.
Schaefer reminded the board members that this action covers the whole county,cheap tiffany cuff Links, not just the building along Illinois 121 in Neoga Township.
Some county officials referred to the possibility of a dance or men’s club opening in the Neoga Township crossroads community as "a rumor."
Cumberland County tax records show the building is owned by Gloria Berkheimer of Mattoon. When contacted by phone Tuesday,cuff Links, she declined responsibility for future business changes in the school building, which once hosted auctions and antique sales. She referred inquiries to an individual she leased the property to this year, but he could not be reached Tuesday.
hmeeker@jg-tc.com 238-6869
