Getting Things Done
We had a great council meeting last night. I am proud to say that the Sexual Predator Ordinance is now on the books, having been voted on unanimously by the Council. We as a City have sent a strong message to all registered sex offenders that they are not welcome in Loganville.
The massage ordinance was accepted as a first reading last night as well. Since the time of the first draft, I have gone back and forth with our City Attorney over revisions and changes that needed to be made. Ultimately, changes were made relating to records and physical requirements, but the ordinance remained almost completely intact.
I requested at last month's council meeting that this ordinance be sent to Public Safety, since it really does fall within the realm of crime prevention and protecting the public. The Mayor agreed, and directed Public Safety to review the ordinance and make a recommendation. The head of Public Safety, Jerry Price, presented the ordinance to the full Council, and I am encouraged that the ordinance was unanimously approved as a first reading, with the restriction involving treatment by persons of the opposite sex included.
This serves the City's goal to prevent businesses that market themselves as massage but engage in suspect or illegal practices from opening up shop. Legitimate businesses need not fear this ordinance; if you are a legitimate massage business/practitioner, this ordinance will keep out those who are not acting professionally or legally in their practice of massage therapy.
I will never apologize for taking the necessary steps to ensure that Loganville remains a great place to raise a family. I was elected to serve the interests of the people of Loganville, and we are getting things done in our town. I am proud to call Loganville "home".
The massage ordinance was accepted as a first reading last night as well. Since the time of the first draft, I have gone back and forth with our City Attorney over revisions and changes that needed to be made. Ultimately, changes were made relating to records and physical requirements, but the ordinance remained almost completely intact.
I requested at last month's council meeting that this ordinance be sent to Public Safety, since it really does fall within the realm of crime prevention and protecting the public. The Mayor agreed, and directed Public Safety to review the ordinance and make a recommendation. The head of Public Safety, Jerry Price, presented the ordinance to the full Council, and I am encouraged that the ordinance was unanimously approved as a first reading, with the restriction involving treatment by persons of the opposite sex included.
This serves the City's goal to prevent businesses that market themselves as massage but engage in suspect or illegal practices from opening up shop. Legitimate businesses need not fear this ordinance; if you are a legitimate massage business/practitioner, this ordinance will keep out those who are not acting professionally or legally in their practice of massage therapy.
I will never apologize for taking the necessary steps to ensure that Loganville remains a great place to raise a family. I was elected to serve the interests of the people of Loganville, and we are getting things done in our town. I am proud to call Loganville "home".
posted by Austin O. Jones | 7:56 AM
3 Comments:
Congratulations, Austin! You are truly moving full steam ahead on protecting those in our town. We need more public servants like you to keep Loganville's interests first and foremost. Keep up the good work.
Does the opposite sex part of the ordinance that my massage theorpist, who is female can't treat my father anymore? He is a diabetic and massage has been the greatest thing to improve his circulation. Someone said that the new ordinance will make it illegal for him to be treated. That is not really true is it?
Thanks Rachel! It's always good to hear encouragement now and again.
To anonymous, it depends. To my knowledge, there are currently no massage therapists practicing in the city limits of Loganville. There are some physical therapists, chriopractors, and other state-licensed businesses that provide similar services here in town, but the new ordinance does not apply to them.
This ordinance applies to establishments and/or individuals who are not licensed by the State. The State law scheduled to go into effect next summer would trump this new ordinance, but the City felt that we needed something in place for the interim.
Basically, to answer your questions, any new massage establishment/therapist seeking to do business in the City of Loganville must refrain from treating people of the opposite sex. This was included to prevent businesses not engaged in legitimate massage therapy from locating here. This restriction has been upheld several times in other municipalities, and should withstand any challenges brought against it here.
So unless your father is being treated by someone who is about to apply for a business within the Loganville city limits, he shouldn't be affected by this ordinance.
I hope this answers your question. Thanks for the feedback!
Post a Comment
<< Home