Wednesday, October 06, 1999
Kenton OKs adult-business law
Ordinance based on national model
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE — After months of study, Kenton County Fiscal Court has approved an ordinance aimed at closely regulating any nightclubs that might open in the county.
Parts of Kenton County's new adult entertainment ordinance are patterned after the National Family Legal Foundation's model ordinance, said Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson.
That ordinance, by the Phoe nix, Ariz.-based legal clearinghouse on adult entertainment and regulatory issues, is derived from laws that have withstood court challenges.
Zoning recommended
Elsewhere in Kenton County, the city of Covington is fighting a federal court challenge of its ordinance regulating adult entertainment businesses, while the city of Taylor Mill is studying whether to establish a special zone for sexually oriented businesses.
While Kenton County's ordinance does not restrict where such businesses can operate, Mr. Edmondson recommended that the fiscal court address zoning in the future.
Kenton County's new law es tablishes a one-time licensing fee of $890 for owners of sexually oriented businesses, as well as an annual $540 renewal fee.
Employees of sexually oriented businesses also must pay an initial $350 licensing fee, as well as an annual renewal fee of $20.
Kenton County Police Capt. Ed Butler said the licensing fees are in line with those charged by other areas.
“The cost of the negative secondary effects of these businesses on Kenton County should never be borne by the citizens, but by the businesses themselves,” said Commissioner Barb Black, who proposed the ordinance.
Mrs. Black said that communities across the nation have found that sexually oriented businesses lead to increased crime, such as prostitution and illegal drug use, as well as the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Outlying application
Mr. Edmondson said the ordinance applies to Kenton County's unincorporated areas, as well as cities that do not have their own adult entertainment regulations.
County officials said the fees are to cover the costs of criminal background checks for anyone affiliated with sexually oriented businesses, as well as the cost of annual fire inspections, and monitoring by police and others.
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