GRAND RAPIDS, Wis.—Peeved that an adult entertainment establishment had to be approved for lack of a law allowing the city fathers to reject a land-use permit for the place, members of the Grand Rapids Legislative Committee are drafting an ordinance to regulate adult entertainment and adult-oriented businesses.
The offensive new establishment is called Speakeasy 54, and is identified on the permit application as a "gentlemen's club (with a) light food menu and bar," according to the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune.
“Because the town has no ordinance on the books to govern exotic dancing—and because exotic dancing is protected by the freedom of speech clause of the First Amendment—commission members could only consider current zoning codes when making their decision,” the paper reported.
Even though no one had thought about the possible scourge of a gentlemen’s club coming to town before, the fact that one actually did has spurred the town to develop an ordinance for future encroachments.
While the details of what might be included in the ordinance are still undecided, Town Board Chairman Don Bohn said that his fellow board members have their work cut out for them.
"There's a lot of background stuff we have to do," he said. "Board members have to read and understand the case law; it's a lot of homework."
Since the opening of Speakeasy 54, however, there are no problems related to the establishment that will assist the board in crafting the new ordinance.
“The Grand Rapids Police Department has not received any complaints about the establishment, and its owners have been very cooperative with law enforcement,” the Tribune quoted the police chief as saying.
The owner of the club also said that he will abide by any new regulations, except one that prohibits nudity. Speakeasy 54 will be exempt anyway, according to Bohn.
