County panel to study 'adult business' ordinances  

  A four-member committee is now studying regulatory options for Milam County as commissioners grapple with the possibility of an “adult business” being located near Rockdale.
 On Monday, County Judge Frank Summers, Precinct 3 Commissioner Dale Jaecks, Sheriff David Greene and Assistant County Attorney Dan Cervenka were named to a committee to study ordinances from other counties and make recommendations for future action.
 “We can’t really keep them out and it appears regulation of sexually-oriented businesses is going to be in areas like keeping them away from schools, churches and other institutions,” Jaecks said.
 Last month commissioners were advised by County Clerk Barbara Vansa her office had been contacted by Richard Clark asking about permits required to open a gentlemen’s club southwest of Rockdale near Alcoa and Luminant operations.
 Clark was present at Monday’s meeting but did not address commissioners.
 “The location is a place out near Country Club Estates which has been a variety of businesses over the years, including several taverns and at one time was even a church,” Jaecks said.
 The committee is studying regulations in neighboring counties, including Bell which contains most of Fort Hood and has extensive experience in dealing with sexually-oriented businesses.
 Bell adopted its first set of regulations in 1990. Its most recent amendments regulate distances between topless dancers and customers, mandate work permits for strippers, regulate language on signs and mandate all areas of a strip club be visible from the manager’s office.
 “These businesses tend to bring in a clientele that will keep the court full and busy,” Summers said.
 Precinct 1 Commissioner Clifford Whiteley told the court he was “not for this type of business.”

Other business
 In other business Monday, commissioners:
 • Okayed a pay raise from $7 to $10 for workers in county-funded elections.
 • Endorsed PHI Air Medical “or any other medical service available” to serve Milam County residents.
 • Reappointed Randy Billingsley, Carter Collins, Carole Simank and Dee Dee Green to the local government committee.
 

mike@rockdalereporter.com

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