Massage parlor oversight tightens in West Monroe - The Franklin Sun

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West Monroe massage parlors face a little more oversight thanks to an ordinance approved Tuesday night by the Board of Aldermen.


Aldermen acted on the matter at their regular meeting.


The Board of Aldermen’s move was in response to a West Monroe police sting operation last month, which resulted in the arrest of five individuals who stand accused of conducting illegal massages at two different massage parlors in the city. The illegal massages were sexual in nature.


City attorney Doug Caldwell said the Board of Aldermen’s authority in regulating massage parlors was somewhat inhibited in light of a state law that already regulates massage parlors as well as a licensing board that oversees massage parlors. However, Caldwell pointed out West Monroe’s new ordinance would require massage parlors to register with the city, and it would regulate their hours of operation, among other regulations.


The ordinance goes into effect May 1.


“It turns out we’ve had some businesses in the city go beyond what their license would allow,” Caldwell said. “We are trying to eliminate it, or minimize it, by establishing some additional requirements.”


Bobby Swanner, a spa owner, asked the Board of Aldermen to reconsider the ordinance’s prohibition on serving alcohol at massage parlors. Swanner said his business offers a VIP package which allows customers to have a glass of wine while undergoing a massage. Caldwell said though the ordinance goes into effect on the first of May, he anticipated the Board of Aldermen would entertain making some changes to the ordinance in the near future, perhaps as soon as the Board of Aldermen’s regular meeting in May.


Mayor Dave Norris did not attend the Board of Aldermen meeting. He’s still recovering from an illness that hospitalized him the weekend of West Monroe’s municipal elections.


Alderman Staci Mitchell, who defeated Norris in the mayor’s race in the March 24 primary, presided over the Board of Aldermen’s meeting.


Besides adopting the ordinance to regulate massage parlors, the Board of Aldermen handled a number of issues including accepting the low bids for two projects aimed at improving West Monroe’s sewer system.


Don Barron Contractors of Farmerville submitted a low bid of $476,690 for a new sewer lift station at 9th Street.


Don Barron Contractors also submitted a low bid of $546,113 for lift station force main improvements at 9th Street.


The Board of Aldermen also rezoned property located at Well Road from a business park to general business. The applicants for the rezoning were Jerry Sanders and K&K Investments. Southern Tire Mart of Hattiesburg, Miss., is buying the property and plans to build a new tire center on the site.


On another front, city engineer Robbie George showed the Board of Aldermen a certificate and trophy the city was awarded for pollution prevention by the state Department of Environmental Quality.


The city was recognized for its solar panel farm at the wastewater treatment plant.


George was in Baton Rouge Tuesday to accept the award on the city’s behalf.


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