Exotic massage parlors targeted by residents during council meeting

Questions recently have risen within the community regarding the legitimacy of certain Warsaw establishments.

The city council approved an ordinance Monday in hopes of seeking out and punishing alleged massage parlors running unlawful businesses. Exotic massage parlors, where employees undress during appointments, and disguised prostitution sites will be targeted for removal according to the council.

"We know which are the legitimate businesses and we know where to find the illegitimate businesses," city attorney Mike Valentine said. "We must focus on the prosecution of such establishments."

The ordinance passed will be discussed and reviewed again at the next council meeting, July 18, before final approval can be given. Board members hope to amend the ordinance to better suit the community before law enforcement begins investigations.

"We have the ball rolling in the right direction. The sooner we act on the issue, the sooner we can rid ourselves of the problem," councilman Joe Thallemer said.

Joel Wilson and Mike Weaver, both of Claypool, expressed their concerns on the topic in front of the council. Both stated that frequenting such sites of operations could lead to pornography addiction and sexually transmitted diseases. Wilson called the parlors in question a "blight on the community" and encouraged the council to take swift action on the matter.

In other matters, Terry Blue's request to vacate a public way along the shoreline of his property was approved unanimously by the council. This came after debate between lawyers of Blue and Stephen Rufenbarger regarding whether or not the ordinance would restrict Rufenbarger's access to any area of his property.

The board also:

• Reviewed the May activity report for the Warsaw Fire Department. WFD recorded a total of 91 runs for the month.

• Tabled a resolution to adopt a fiscal plan for services to an annexed area in Wayne township. The board wants to further review documentation of the resolution before making a formal decision.

• Held a public hearing for Robert Murphy in regards to the construction of the Baker Youth Center at the former Kimble Glass site on West Market Street. No attendants remarked on the hearing.

• Approved Zimmer Production Inc. for a 10-year tax abatement. Zimmer recorded adding 20 additional jobs, and estimates adding a total of 270 jobs within the next 10 years.

• Approved an amendment to the 2005 salary ordinance. Many wage-based positions within city departments will now be paid on a salary basis.

• Approved Petro Family LLC's request to rezone areas of a planned unit development. A 150-foot by 500-foot area of the PUD will be removed and rezoned as C-3 commercial.

• Approved amendments to employee handbooks for general employees, the fire department, police department and civilian police.

Present members at the meeting were Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Thallemer, Smith, Bob Morrison, Jeff Grose, George Clemens and Bill Rhoades. Councilman Jerry Patterson was absent.