BROWNTOWN - The Browntown Village Board may not like it, but there also may be nothing it can do to curb stripping going on in its community.
That was what supervisors were told Tuesday when they met to discuss its options regarding complaints from the public about stripping at Trailside Inn.
Village Board President John Schmitt said he opposes stripping, but said village Clerk Carol Davis learned at a conference recently that any ordinance that deals with stripping could face a legal challenge the village likely would lose.
Browntown doesn't have an ordinance to prohibit stripping or control where such activities could take place.
Davis said she talked to two attorneys when she attended a conference with other clerks. She was told that any ordinance to zone or regulate stripping created by the village at this point - after an establishment already allows topless dancing - would be challenged.
Browntown could spend up to $100,000 to defend an ordinance, but it's not guaranteed to win the case, Schmitt told the board and the nine people who attended the meeting.
"I don't like what they're (Trailside Inn) doing and I think it will destroy their business," Schmitt said. "I don't think we can prevent it."
The board agreed to take up the issue at a future meeting. Schmitt told the board it needs to come up with an ordinance that would create zoning requirements for any business that may want to include adult entertainment in the future.
Until then, board member Joan Pickett suggested people contact the Green County Sheriff's Department if they have any complaints about the Trailside Inn.
Complaints about activities at the bar led the board to discuss the issue during its February meeting. The board heard from about 20 residents who were opposed to stripping at Trailside Inn.
Trailside Inn owner Dale Hoesly has said allows pole dancing at the bar, and said women have taken off their tops while dancing. He said the women who use the pole for dancing are local customers who aren't paid by the bar.
Hoesly added a pole to the bar about a year ago to allow people to dance. Schmitt said the board told Hoesly at the time it wouldn't prevent him from putting a pole in the building, but cautioned him that it would monitor the situation if members of the public began to complain.
Some people have told the board the women who dance at the bar come from out of town and are paid through tips.
That was what supervisors were told Tuesday when they met to discuss its options regarding complaints from the public about stripping at Trailside Inn.
Village Board President John Schmitt said he opposes stripping, but said village Clerk Carol Davis learned at a conference recently that any ordinance that deals with stripping could face a legal challenge the village likely would lose.
Browntown doesn't have an ordinance to prohibit stripping or control where such activities could take place.
Davis said she talked to two attorneys when she attended a conference with other clerks. She was told that any ordinance to zone or regulate stripping created by the village at this point - after an establishment already allows topless dancing - would be challenged.
Browntown could spend up to $100,000 to defend an ordinance, but it's not guaranteed to win the case, Schmitt told the board and the nine people who attended the meeting.
"I don't like what they're (Trailside Inn) doing and I think it will destroy their business," Schmitt said. "I don't think we can prevent it."
The board agreed to take up the issue at a future meeting. Schmitt told the board it needs to come up with an ordinance that would create zoning requirements for any business that may want to include adult entertainment in the future.
Until then, board member Joan Pickett suggested people contact the Green County Sheriff's Department if they have any complaints about the Trailside Inn.
Complaints about activities at the bar led the board to discuss the issue during its February meeting. The board heard from about 20 residents who were opposed to stripping at Trailside Inn.
Trailside Inn owner Dale Hoesly has said allows pole dancing at the bar, and said women have taken off their tops while dancing. He said the women who use the pole for dancing are local customers who aren't paid by the bar.
Hoesly added a pole to the bar about a year ago to allow people to dance. Schmitt said the board told Hoesly at the time it wouldn't prevent him from putting a pole in the building, but cautioned him that it would monitor the situation if members of the public began to complain.
Some people have told the board the women who dance at the bar come from out of town and are paid through tips.