SCOTT CITY, OKs NUDE DANCING MEASURES

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Council unanimously adopted two ordinances regulating erotic dancing Monday night.

The first ordinance applies the law to all erotic dance establishments whether liquor is served or not. The second says denies liquor licenses to businesses that employ erotic dancers or allow them to perform.

No such businesses operate in Scott City, but the furor over nude dance clubs opening in neighboring Cape Girardeau prompted the council's action.

"We want to keep our city from some of the turmoil that other cities have experienced," said Mayor Larry Forhan.

In seeking the council's immediate adoption, Forhan said the city faced an "emergency situation."

Forhan said the ordinances were modeled after laws in Blue Springs. Cape Girardeau and Jackson officials are considering similar measures.

The ordinance says public erotic dancing causes "undesirable social problems," such as drug trafficking, prostitution and reduced property values. The ordinance says that close contact between dancers and patrons "increases the likelihood of drug and sex transactions occurring on the premises."

The law describes erotic dancers as any male or female who performs in an erotic dance establishment and either isn't fully clothed or is wearing clothing designed to "accentuate the body in a manner which would tend to sexually arouse" another person.

The ordinance also forbids any erotic dancer or dance club patron from fondling, caressing or touching one another in a sexually arousing manner.

As in Blue Springs, erotic dancers will be required to perform on a raised stage at least 10 feet away from patrons. The ordinance also prohibits tipping.

Nude dance clubs will be forbidden within 1,000 of any residential area, school, public park, church or daycare center in Scott City.

The ordinance also establishes licensing requirements for both the owner of the business and for dancers, who will be required to submit their fingerprints and a photograph to the police department.

Any applicant that has been convicted of a felony within five years or of any violation involving sexual offenses, prostitution, pornography, or drugs will be denied a license.