subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Fri, Nov 27 2009 

Published April 06, 2008 11:47 pm - MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Fearing that a strip club being fought in Jasper County might wind up down the road in Lawrence County, the County Commission is asking voters on Tuesday to endorse a special tax on adult cabarets to make it more costly for them to set up shop in Lawrence County.

County seeks selective tax as obstacle to strip clubs



By Wally Kennedy

wkennedy@joplinglobe.com

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Fearing that a strip club being fought in Jasper County might wind up down the road in Lawrence County, the County Commission is asking voters on Tuesday to endorse a special tax on adult cabarets to make it more costly for them to set up shop in Lawrence County.

Rodney Barnes, Western District commissioner, said the matter was put on the ballot by the commission in response to inquiries from an adult-video business on Interstate 44 at the Stotts City exit.

The commission is seeking permission to levy a special tax of 10 percent on a cabaret’s gross receipts. The special taxation would last for a period not to exceed four years. The money would be used to investigate the backgrounds of the employees of the business and for general law-enforcement use of the Sheriff’s Department.

“They (the owners of the adult-video store) did approach us a few months ago about what they wanted to do,” Barnes said. “We told them we would need a health inspection on it with regard to their lagoon. We thought if they could see the cost, they would not turn it into a juice bar or adult cabaret.”

Barnes said the county’s health inspector provided “some pretty big numbers” with regard to modifications to the lagoon system for the wastewater from the cabaret.

“The cost was high enough that they backed off,” he said. “The last we heard they were not going to do it.”

A spokesman for the business could not be reached by the Globe for comment.

“But Jasper County was having such a battle,” Barnes said, “we decided if they can’t easily put them in Jasper County, they might look for counties that will be easier for them to be put in.”

The special taxation provision is part of a state statute that regulates health departments.

The measure, if approved by voters, would be put back to the voters again in three years. Barnes said a simple majority is needed for passage.

Barnes said the commission supports the concept of selective taxation with regard to this issue.

“We could be concerned about that, I guess, but we think we have got a statute that allows us to do it,” he said. “We are trying to deter that type of business. It is selective taxation. There is no other way of putting it.

“But we did some research, and found that these businesses create a drain on the sheriff’s department and the health department. We wanted them to pay for the extra costs that this may bring to our county. That’s the way of justifying a special tax on a special business.”



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements


Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Jobs

TRUCK DRIVERS NEEDED

for local construction project, must have CDL and experience on construction site belly dumps. 417-206-0930.
...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

YAMAHA PSR-GX76
76 key keyboard, new in box, sustain petal and music stand, paid $324, sell for $175. 417-434-0925...>MORE

2002 KIA OPTIMA EX
4 door, sharp, loaded, leather, CD, sunroof, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

2001 FORD WINDSTAR SE
Sport, loaded, all options, great looking van, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

1998 CHEVROLET TRACKER
removable hard tops, automatic, air, CD, sharp, $2500. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2 door, spoiler, sharp, loaded, automatic, air, CD, extra nice, $2600. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

TOYOTA 2004 TACOMA PRERUNNER
Toyota, 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, TRD off road, double cab, V6, new tires, CD, bed liner, lid cover, 100,000 miles, excelle...>MORE

JEEP 2000 CHEROKEE SPORT
JEEP, 2000 Cherokee Sport, 6 1/2” lift, 35” foggers, locked front end, welded rear end, off road use, winch not included...>MORE

2003 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT
loaded, 1 owner, 94,000 miles, nice. (417)385-7755...>MORE

2002 FORD TAURUS SE
nice car, 3.0 liter V6, $2900. 417-850-0731....>MORE

1979 SATURN
GOOD Economical car, 1979 Saturn, $2000 firm, cash only. (620)783-1751....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

NEWER 3 BR/2 BA
Lots of upgrades and great location. $149,000 but all offers considered. 903 Katlin, Carl Junction. Pictures www.fsboloc...>MORE

3 ACRES
3 ACRES more/less with pond. Nice park-like setting, just minutes from Range Line. Close to area of newer homes. $19,900...>MORE

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

525 E. 41ST, JOPLIN, MO

to be sold at auction December 5th or before. Lovely all red brick home on large corner. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, double
...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

POODLES
POODLES, standard pups, born 10/10, registered, shots, wormed, family raised. Adorable personalities! 417-673-3892....>MORE

I WANT TO BUY
6’ t-post, 5’ wire. Call for details. (417)396-1339...>MORE

INDIAN HEAD PENNIES
INDIAN HEAD PENNIES, 35% Civil War II nickels, V nickels, Buffalo nickels, lots of other coins. Garage full of antiques ...>MORE

5TH WHEEL
5TH WHEEL, 2004 Prowler Regal, 26’, 2 slides, loaded, nice. (620)674-2127....>MORE

NEW IN BOX
New in box, Lucchese cowboy boots, black, size 9D, $200. (620)231-9256...>MORE

DIAMOND SOLITAIRE
Pear-shaped, one carat, diamond solitaire in gold setting. $2,000. Please call 417-825-3238...>MORE

REWARD $50,000 REWARD

Offered for any information leading to conviction of any person or persons known to have been involved in alleged
...>MORE

MALTESE PUPPIES
2 gorgeous AKC males, 8 weeks on 11/30, all shots/vaccines, $200 each. 417-325-4340 ...>MORE

ANGUS HEIFERS
6 Augus heifers, good foundation stock. (417)358-7519...>MORE

YORKIES
12 weeks old, 2 males, AKC, 1st shots, $175. 417-291-6590, Webb City...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition