STRIP CLUB PASSES INQUIRY

Night Clubs Inc.'s owner and officers have passed a police background check in its quest to put a strip bar at Enterprise Street in Cape Girardeau.

Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd has signed Night Clubs' request for a liquor license. Night Clubs, which has two Regina's House of Dolls in Paducah, Ky., wants to open one here.

Boyd said the company has passed all the background checks.

The matter will go before the city council Tuesday as a conditional request.

City Attorney Warren Wells said a conditional request for a liquor license means that once all provisions are met, including building permits, inspections and any other matters, the owner would receive the green light to obtain a license without having to wait for approval at the next council meeting.

"There are situations sometimes where not all requirements are met when the council is faced with authorizing the request," Wells said. "The person seeking the license expects to meet all requirements, so it's a standard procedure to make it a conditional request."

An unconditional request for a liquor license means the applicant has met all the requirements.

David Rosener, the attorney representing Night Clubs owner Regina Capps, said he expects to have everything taken care of by Tuesday.

"We were informed that we needed to put in a fire wall and we're going to do that," Rosener said, adding that the inspector didn't tell the company of the need during the first trip. The city said it was just an oversight.

"We plan to comply with all of the requirements in order to get the license approved by next Tuesday," Rosener said.

Area residents objected to the proposed nightclub at the Jan. 3 city council meeting. Cape Girardeau residents are expected to produce a petition at Tuesday's meeting.

However, city officials said the council must approve the license request if Night Clubs' liquor license application is in order.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III said the city has no ordinance prohibiting a strip bar provided the business complies with liquor regulations.