| Today's Feature Juicy Discussion.
County Commissioners met in a
two hour meeting on Thursday morning, discussing
a variety of issues ranging from the county
budget, an upcoming energy audit, and an
ordinance which would regulate sexual orientated
businesses.
Citizen concern about the
proposed "Precious Movement" juice bar
in Jasper County has earned the attention of the
American Family Association.
R.L. Beasley, the executive
director of the Missouri AFA Association
addressed the Commission about the regulation of
sexual orientated businesses.
"My purpose is to present
a model ordinance for you to consider concerning
sexually orientated businesses," explained
Beasley, who is also a resident of Jasper County.
The AFA is 22 year old, privately funded
religious organization based in Tupelo,
Mississippi.
Presiding County Commissioner
Danny Hensley, questioned Beasley about the
timing of his proposed ordinance.
"Is the reason for coming
in the one on Fairview?" Hensley asked.
"We have one (juice bar) north of town.
Where has everyone been laying in the bushes all
these years? It’s been going on for two or
three years out there."
Beasley said the AFA becomes
involved only after individuals within the
community inform them of possible adult
businesses.
Hensley told the Mornin’
Mail that he has spoken with the owner
concerning his plans for the business located
east of Carthage on Gum Road near county road
120..
"He (the owner) said he
was going to open a "juice bar" in the
spring. It would be a "juice bar"
similar to the one out north of Carthage,"
explained Hensley.
Drafted by AFA law center,
Beasley says this ordinance has been given out to
cities and counties throughout the United States
by the AFA since 1991.
"This ordinance has never
been challenged. Constitutional lawyers put it
together trying to cover all of the bases,"
Beasley explained. "What it does is prohibit
and regulate these types of businesses, and put
great restrictions on them outside the zoning
situation that has arisen in recent years."
Beasley said the ordinance is
"very inclusive." The sexual orientated
businesses found within ordinance include: adult
arcades, adult bookstores, adult video stores,
adult "juice bars", and adult motion
picture theatres.
In addition it also covers
escort agencies, individual escorts, nude model
studio and details concerning specified sexual
activity.
Beasley said this would allow
the county to licence or prohibit these types of
activities, issue fees or fines, have site
inspections, and the ability to suspend or revoke
the businesses licences.
Beasley said the AFA law center
would even design at no charge an ordinance
specifically for Jasper County. Once the County
approved an AFA ordinance, if there is ever a
challenge, the AFA law center "will defend
it at no charge to the county."
Anna Ruth Crampton, Western
Commissioner, asked how the AFA ordinance would
affect Precious Movements if it is approved after
the business opens. Beasley said he was unsure
how existing business would be granfathered into
the ordinance.
Crampton suggested the
Commission have County Counselor Jim Spradling
read over the proposed ordinance, calling
AFA’s assistance with the ordinance a
possible "win-win" situation for Jasper
County.
In other business, Crampton,
informed those present that Jasper County has
been approved for a low interest two percent loan
from the State to bring the court house up to
energy specifications.
The $200,000 loan stipulates
that all four improvement projects including work
on the window instillations, a central heat and
air system and electrical work must be completed
at the same time.
This loan would be in addition
to the $150,000 set aside in the budget for
electrical wiring improvements.
Once the energy improvements
are completed, the county will begin to see an
immediate return. "We will save $25,623 per
year, over half of what we are paying in energy
costs," Crampton said.
An energy audit for the loan
will be conducted at 10 a.m., Wednesday, January
13. Hensley said once it is completed, the County
will have a better idea of the total cost for the
energy improvement project.
Crampton also informed the
Commission that County Auditor Shirley Norris
requested they draft and sign a letter stating
the Commissioners’ approval of the 1999
budget.
Ben Johnson, Eastern County
Commissioner, recommended the approval of the
budget as determined during the December 22 work
session. Following its unanimous passage by a
show of hands, Commissioners signed the letter
stating their approval of the revised 1999 budget
and returned it to Norris during the meeting.
The Commission went into closed
session at the conclusion of the regular meeting
to discuss the purchase of the Nations Bank
building on the Carthage Square.
Pardon Us While We Hover.
by Robin Putnam, artCentral
Was that cold?, or what!! For a
while 35 degrees seemed balmy....We sure hope it
doesn't get that cold again...our poor little
Geranium House can't take it. You know how it is
when you're over one hundred years old.
Our Wednesday Life Drawing was
held at the studio of Penny Wilkinson in Carl
Junction. She is an award-winning painter, one of
our members and a big help when we were
experiencing some technical difficulties at the
G. House. We thank her for opening her place to
the drawing group! Next Wednesday, the 13th, Life
Drawing will be at the G. House, Red Oak II, 6-8
p.m., unless.....See you there.
The Building Committee met to
discuss wiring and electrical at the Hyde House.
Our buddy from AAA Electric, Mike, will be
removing the track lighting from the G. House. If
all goes well we will be installing these tracks
in the new gallery area. Mike has been helping us
out since the beginning and we thank him for his
support!
During the Committee meeting it
was decided we would meet on Saturday to clean
out a garage where artCentral 'stuff' has been
stored for oh about...a bazillion years! We need
to consolidate and store it in central location.
Man... I wonder when we'll have to go clean out
Don's barn that's full of our stuff!! The idea of
putting some of our stuff in an auction sounds
like a good way to reduce our storage needs.
We're even going to try and do some
inventorying!! Doesn't that sound like a ton of
fun! Wanna help? Just call and say I'll
volunteer!! We'll fix you right up!
Just a few more days until the
City Council will vote on our request!! We're
soooo excited. Keep your fingers crossed for us!
We hope everyone will bear with
us while we 'hover' for a short while. We're
anxious to know what direction artCentral will be
going, too. Next week...it could all start then!!
Everyone's been great during
all of our shifting. We even have new members
joining weekly!!
More.......next week.
|
