Small Town News

Residents speak against topless dancing

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A handful of people turned out Monday night to encourage Grand Coulee's city council to find a way to stop topless dancing at the Wolf's Den bar.

Three people spoke against it, Linda Black, Cheryl Piturachsatit and Vicki Bainard.

However, it was the city's attorney who had the most to say, and it wasn't good news for those who came to the meeting to protest topless dancing.

Attorney Charles Zimmerman said the "city is not protected" by its ordinances.

He suggested that the city council hold a special meeting later this week and place a moratorium on topless dancing until an ordinance could be written and passed.

Zimmerman said there still might not be enough time to stop the topless dancing plan.

"Timing is everything," Councilman Chris Christopherson stated. "We are a little behind in timing."

Linda Black told the council that topless dancing would have an impact on any downtown revi-talization plans, that it promotes indecency and that there would be associated crime from topless dancing.

Piturachsatit owns Pit's Place next door to the Wolfs Den and her husband also owns and operates the Siam Palace on Main Street. "We have family-friendly businesses and this wouldn't be good for families," she said. The Wolfs Den is between the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center on one side and Pit's Place, a family restaurant and gift shop on the other.

"If you allow this, you will be sending a mixed message to the town and young people," Piturachsatit said.

Bainard said that, while she understood the tavern has the right to offer topless dancing, "it would put existing businesses in jeopardy."

Bainard said the council should just say no to it.

Attorney Zimmerman said if the firm has a current liquoir license and if the city isn't protected by its ordinances, then it was up to the State Liquor Control Board.

Ted Wolf, owner of the tavern, said Monday that he plans to start topless entertainment in September.

It was 10 years ago to the week when Grand Coulee faced another such challenge. This came in the form of adult materials being made available at a storefront on Midway. The owner had a back room that featured adult materials, including films. Ordinances then didn't protect the city either, but the firm eventually closed.

Attorney Zimmerman said the city might be protected by its demographics in that it takes a good- size population to make topless dancing profitable. "You don't have it here," he said.

At the end of the meeting, the council went into a closed session for an hour to talk to Zimmerman about the city's options. State law allows such closed sessions when litigation is the topic.

The city late Tuesday issued notice of a special council meeting scheduled for Thursday at noon to consider adopting an ordinance that would declare a six-month moratorium on adult entertainment and/or sexually oriented businesses.



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© 2011 The Star Grand Coulee, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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