WINFIELD - Businesses that violate Putnam County's adults-only establishment location ordinance now face higher fines - although the ordinance apparently doesn't apply to an event that prompted county commissioners to raise the penalties.
On Tuesday, commissioners voted to increase fines for violating the ordinance. The range is now $500 to $5,000; it had been $10 to $300.
The change comes shortly after someone complained that an April 19 event, planned at EZ Street Bar on Winfield Road near St. Albans, might violate the ordinance.
The "Girls Night Out The Show" event features a traveling troupe of all-male dancers. In advertisements on a website for the Las Vegas-based show, men pose shirtless. The act is described as a two-hour song-and-dance show.
The Putnam ordinance, adopted in 2003, defines adults-only establishments as adult bookstores, exotic entertainment venues or adults-only movie theaters. There are also clear guidelines of what clothing, or lack thereof, is considered obscene.
County Attorney Jennifer Scragg Karr said if the EZ Street event is as described, it doesn't violate the ordinance.
"This isn't the town from 'Footloose' here, so you can dance," Karr said.
County officials still plan to have someone attend the event to make sure EZ Street doesn't violate the ordinance.
Valerie Street, one of the bar's owners, said the bar has hosted the event twice before, and no one has expressed concern. They were surprised to find out someone filed a complaint.
Street said the show is a choreographed song-and-dance routine, with no nudity.
EZ Street is a bar just for people 21 years of age and older, and Street said she'd understand concern about the event if it were held at a family restaurant.
"It's a ticketed event, and it's not like you can say 'Oh, I didn't mean to walk into this,' " she said
Street said she'll be at the show herself, and have conversations with the men to make sure nothing is in violation of the ordinance.
"I will the stop the show if I feel like we're in violation myself," Street said.
Also Tuesday, commissioners accepted a bid for the county's parking lot project. The project would repave the parking lot between county offices and the county courthouse.
Cherry River Construction, based in Red House, submitted the low bid and will complete the project over the summer. It will cost the county $274,000.
Reach Ali Schmitz at ali.schmitz@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @SchmitzMedia on Twitter.