BROWNTOWN - Some citizens concerned about a dancing pole at Trailside Inn are now concerned the tavern is hurting the village's reputation, but the village board doesn't plan on taking any immediate action.
Last year, the board received complaints from about 20 people who said nude dancing was taking place at Trailside Inn. The board learned the village doesn't have any ordinances that prohibit stripping. Browntown Village Clerk Carol Davis said that any ordinance created by the board in response to the citizen complaints could be challenged by Trailside Inn owner Dale Hoesly, since no ordinance that prohibited nude dancing existed prior to their complaints.
At the March 16 village board meeting, citizens again voiced their concerns about Trailside Inn. Some said the business hurt the village's reputation and affected home sales.
At issue was an incident that took place Feb. 21 at the tavern after three underage men tried to enter and were turned away by tavern employees. The Green County Sheriff's Department, Lafayette County Sheriff's Department and Monroe Police Department were called to the business for a fight. Three Monroe men, ages 20, 19, and 17, were cited for trying to enter a licensed premise. They were released pending court.
Browntown First Response, Green County Emergency Medical Services and Argyle EMS were also called to the scene.
Browntown resident Julie Tuescher said stripping allowed at the tavern caused the fight.
"Without the pole, the fight wouldn't have happened," she said. "This gives Browntown a bad name."
Hoesly disputed the charge that he allows stripping to take place at the tavern. He said the Feb. 21 event was "blown out of proportion." People tried to enter the tavern illegally and were turned away.
Hoesly said people complained that there was broken glass in front of his business after the fight but he cleaned it up the next day. People accused him of not cleaning up the mess quickly enough, but they were wrong, he said.
"This is just small-town people talking," Hoesly said.
Hoesly explained that the pole is located in a separate room from the rest of the tavern and a curtain keeps patrons from seeing what goes on inside. There is also a sign above the door that says, "No Nudity Allowed."
However, he did say that some women have taken off their tops while dancing.
"We have a lot of fun here. We're not hurting anyone," he said.
Hoesly said the tavern hasn't been cited for anything by the sheriff's department.
Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick confirmed that the sheriff's department hasn't issued any citations to the Trailside Inn for any activities. He said deputies were called to the business twice in March for reports of suspicious behavior outside the tavern, but nothing was found.
According to board minutes from the March 16 meeting, the village board told Hoesly that it would continue to monitor complaints, and warned him that it does have authority to suspend his license if complaints about the business continue.
Board member Joan Pickett said the board plans to take a "wait-and-see" approach to the problem. It could take action in the future if there are more police calls to the tavern.
That wasn't what Tuescher wanted to hear.
"There are lots of children in this community," she said. "This isn't for around here. I want them to get rid of the pole and the strippers."
Hoesly, who has owned the Trailside Inn for eight years, said he's irritated by the charges and complaints.
"I love Browntown," he said. "I'm not running a strip joint. That's not what we want in our town."
Last year, the board received complaints from about 20 people who said nude dancing was taking place at Trailside Inn. The board learned the village doesn't have any ordinances that prohibit stripping. Browntown Village Clerk Carol Davis said that any ordinance created by the board in response to the citizen complaints could be challenged by Trailside Inn owner Dale Hoesly, since no ordinance that prohibited nude dancing existed prior to their complaints.
At the March 16 village board meeting, citizens again voiced their concerns about Trailside Inn. Some said the business hurt the village's reputation and affected home sales.
At issue was an incident that took place Feb. 21 at the tavern after three underage men tried to enter and were turned away by tavern employees. The Green County Sheriff's Department, Lafayette County Sheriff's Department and Monroe Police Department were called to the business for a fight. Three Monroe men, ages 20, 19, and 17, were cited for trying to enter a licensed premise. They were released pending court.
Browntown First Response, Green County Emergency Medical Services and Argyle EMS were also called to the scene.
Browntown resident Julie Tuescher said stripping allowed at the tavern caused the fight.
"Without the pole, the fight wouldn't have happened," she said. "This gives Browntown a bad name."
Hoesly disputed the charge that he allows stripping to take place at the tavern. He said the Feb. 21 event was "blown out of proportion." People tried to enter the tavern illegally and were turned away.
Hoesly said people complained that there was broken glass in front of his business after the fight but he cleaned it up the next day. People accused him of not cleaning up the mess quickly enough, but they were wrong, he said.
"This is just small-town people talking," Hoesly said.
Hoesly explained that the pole is located in a separate room from the rest of the tavern and a curtain keeps patrons from seeing what goes on inside. There is also a sign above the door that says, "No Nudity Allowed."
However, he did say that some women have taken off their tops while dancing.
"We have a lot of fun here. We're not hurting anyone," he said.
Hoesly said the tavern hasn't been cited for anything by the sheriff's department.
Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick confirmed that the sheriff's department hasn't issued any citations to the Trailside Inn for any activities. He said deputies were called to the business twice in March for reports of suspicious behavior outside the tavern, but nothing was found.
According to board minutes from the March 16 meeting, the village board told Hoesly that it would continue to monitor complaints, and warned him that it does have authority to suspend his license if complaints about the business continue.
Board member Joan Pickett said the board plans to take a "wait-and-see" approach to the problem. It could take action in the future if there are more police calls to the tavern.
That wasn't what Tuescher wanted to hear.
"There are lots of children in this community," she said. "This isn't for around here. I want them to get rid of the pole and the strippers."
Hoesly, who has owned the Trailside Inn for eight years, said he's irritated by the charges and complaints.
"I love Browntown," he said. "I'm not running a strip joint. That's not what we want in our town."