If a

sexually oriented business wants to open in Coweta

County, it will have to locate in an industrial area far

away from any residents.

That's one

of the major conditions drafted in a proposed ordinance

to regulate sex businesses that the Coweta County

Commission will vote on Feb. 1.

Last week,

the commission had a lengthy public hearing on the

33-page document. More than 20 interested citizens showed

up to offer their opinions on the ordinance and all

praised the commission and staff for their work on the

ordinance.

County

attorney Mitch Powell explained the county had researched

every known ordinance they can find on the issue and

tried to make Coweta's the strongest ordinance possible.

County

Commissioner Lawrence Nelms told the audience that the

county is enacting the ordinance to try and regulate the

industry as much as possible.

"We're

not doing this to try and bring these businesses into the

county. Right now, they could come in since we don't have

an ordinance," he said.

Highlights

of the ordinance include:

- The business cannot be within 1,500

feet of any school, religious institution, public park,

day care center or residence.

- The business cannot be within 1,000

feet of another sexually related business.

- The business can be located only in

an industrial area.

- No alcohol can be sold at the

business.

- Workers at the business are not

allowed to accept tips.

- All workers must complete a

background check.

- Workers are not allowed to be within

three feet of customers.

Commissioner

Jim McGuffey complimented Powell's work on the document,

but said he would favor even stronger measures.

"I've

seen some legal cases that upheld workers not being

allowed within six feet of customers and I'd like to see

that," he said.

A local

minister agreed with McGuffey's assessment.

"I

like what I'm hearing and I ask you to leave no stone

unturned in making this stronger," said Ken Adams,

who is pastor at Crossroads Baptist Church in Sharpsburg.

The

commissioners would normally have voted on the issue last

Tuesday, but decided to wait until February to make sure

any strengthening of the document would be completed.