The Valentine City Council met for their regular meeting Thursday, March 18, 2021, at Mid Plains Community College. The meeting began at 7:00 p.m. with the following in attendance: City Clerk Deanna Schmit, City Attorney Suzy Beel, City Manager Shane Siewert, City Council members Kyle Arganbright, Kalli Kieborz, Neil Wescott, Dave Dent, and Ross Brockley.
Audit Report
Michael Hoback with Almquist, Malzahn, Galloway and Luth presented the 2019-2020 audit report. He concluded with everything was in good shape except for the water and sewer rates. He also said the City Administration did a good job.
Public Hearing on topless dancing
At 7:05 p.m. a public hearing was opened to hear comments to consider making topless dancing a special use in the business district and to provide for conditions.
After the public hearing on the resolution for TIF, and Almquist’s report, the Council heard comments on topless dancing.
Arganbright asked that people please be respectful and limit the conversation to three minutes per speaker.
The first speaker said: Good evening, I’m here to testify to my experience with “adult entertainment.” It really causes me much pain to have to talk to you about this subject. But, because of my past experiences, I feel called to do so.
“Adult entertainment” makes it sound so clean doesn’t it? Nothing could be further from the truth. This “industry,” as they call it is not just a job people do, or some entertainment that people go to occasionally. The women who dance are most likely survivors of abuse themselves or victims of abuse with no way out of the terrible lives they are trapped in. But what I want to focus on are the men or boys who are coming in to watch the dancers and what they do afterwards. I’m testifying to this now so you know, if you go forward with this despicable abuse of women, there are always consequences, even if they are not apparent right away.
I stand before you today – a survivor. What did I survive? Let me tell you. My father was a sex addict. It started out as looking at magazines and escalated over time to watching porn movies, then going to strip clubs. Then, eventually these weren’t enough to satisfy him. He eventually played out his sexual fantasies on those closest to him – his daughters and his wife. I was the oldest of three daughters, 12 at the time, when my father sexually abused me. I didn’t even know what sex was at that age. I was so afraid and ashamed and could not turn to anyone for help because he threatened to harm me or anyone I told. I was so afraid. I felt trapped and helpless. He would also force my mother to have sex with other men and watch. I remember her cries and pleading “no” as I overheard from another room.
My childhood and adolescence were a nightmare. I contemplated suicide, but knew it was wrong in the eyes of God to take my own life, so I prayed nearly every day for God to take my life. The only thing that kept me from running away was that I could not abandon my sisters and Mom and I did not have the means to leave. Having been brought up in this abusive environment led to making poor choices as a young adult. I married a man right out of high school to escape my family, only to enter into a life with an alcoholic. That life eventually led to abuse as well.
So – fast forward to my middle adulthood. My parents divorced. I disowned my dad and did not speak to him for several years. I divorced my alcoholic husband. Then, a few years later, I happened to run into my dad. He spoke to me and told me he had cancer and was dying. After some communication, he said he was sorry for all he had done. I forgave him. My mother never forgave him. I was the only one of his children to visit him as he was dying and to go to his funeral. I know that he desperately wanted to be forgiven before he died. He was not sure if God would forgive him. For sure, we will all stand at the throne of God one day and be judged for our deeds.
So, again, I cannot stress this enough, there will be people who are harmed by allowing dancers. The “adult entertainment” industry has brought much pain and destruction to my family, and untold numbers of others. We need to protect the women and children in our communities from sexual crimes - seen and unseen. We need to stop the abuse and exploitation of the dancers. Having this come to our community will bring in prostitution and drugs. This is not something that we want for our community. Some people will do anything for money. Don’t let the greed of a handful of people harm this community. There are a lot of ways to make a living without breaking the law or harming people. Figure it out before it is too late.
Another speaker said she was in real estate and had the listing for the Raine Motel. The new manager said he had a hard time keeping the dancers out of the hotel rooms and there was a problem with prostitution. The bar owners were taking part of their wages and the dancers were turning tricks and using drugs. There has to be a better cleaner way to make money; have an open mic night. There’s a lot of ideas that don’t lead to rape, prostitution, or drug dealing.
Next to speak was the general manager of Comfort Inn and Niobrara Lodge who asked why the council would consider putting a black mark on the county and the town by even considering something like this. She talked about the rejuvenation plans of Main Street. We’ll be the Sodom and Gomorrah of the Sandhills.
Pastor Scott thanked the Council for allowing him the time to speak and said he’s been on both sides of the issue, praying God’s wisdom for the Council as well as the men and women who would frequent a topless dancing business. He explained that in his ministry he’s counseled many family members who have been abused due to porn addiction. I look at you [council members] as being the gate keeper - you’ve been appointed by God, use it wisely and He will bless you for it.
Another speaker reiterated the municipal statute which states: The action of City Council in zoning or rezoning must have a foundation in promoting health, safety, morals, or general welfare of the community, and asked if fathers, and husbands would want their wives or daughters doing topless dancing.
Next to speak was a person who said she didn’t live in Valentine but wanted to speak from a victim point of view which began when she was four years old. She said she married a pillar of the community in South Dakota who took her across Nebraska to strip clubs. Everyone has good intentions to start with, no one thinks of what happens to the victims. I was taken from strip club to strip club by Hell’s Angels; what about the victims and the victim’s families. This is where you have the chance to say stop. It affects someone directly and because it affects someone directly, it affects us all indirectly.
After a five minute recess James Ward was the next speaker.
The City is going to spend millions to redo Main Street, add trees, and benches to be more family friendly. They should say no to adult entertainment, less than 70’ from a children’s dance studio, less than 185’ from family housing, and less than 475’ to a city park.
This is not about a bar, individual rights, consenting adults, property rights, what was there before, my morals vs. yours, or excuses. This is about money, sex, selling sex, objectifying women, putting live pornography on Main Street next to a little girls dance studio, and enabling sex trafficking in our community.
Harvard Professor Dan O’Bryant wrote in a paper, “Strip clubs provide the perfect learning environment for sexually toxic attitudes and behaviors. Leering, jeering, sexual touching, and lap dancing are everyday occurrences in strip clubs throughout the world. [people] cannot exploit and objectify women in one environment without having an effect on aspects of their lives...strip clubs are well-known fronts enabling prostitution and sex trafficking.” Dignity: A journal on sexual exploitation and violence. July 2017.
This type of business will make it easier for sex traffickers. They cannot ban this type of business, but they can leave it where it is already allowed and not approve it to be on Main Street. The U.S. Supreme Court settled the issue of what they can do in the case of Renton vs. Playtime Theaters 475 U.S. 41 (1986)– they can regulate the time, place, and manner.
If we can save one person from being a victim shouldn’t we. The only way that this gets on Main Street is because they vote for it, they want it in our community, and on Main Street, because they don’t have to open Main Street to this. Any other reason for allowing it is a lie.
A gentleman spoke next and said more men should stand up in support of these women asking them to think about how much pain you never see.
Pastor Nolting shared how from a neurological standpoint that this type of entertainment impacts the brains of young men. He said in all his years as a minister that he’s not had a marriage fall apart that didn’t involve pornography.
A teacher was the final speaker and said they’re repeating the mantra: Respectful, Responsible, and Safe to the students. So when you make decisions at the council, show that to our children and make the decision that does matter.
The public hearing was closed at 8:24 p.m.
There were three ordinances before the Council on this topic. The first ordinance 2021-2244M would allow with a special permit for topless dancing adult entertainment in the C-2 [Business] district.
The second ordinance 2021-2245M would allow only topless dancing in the C-2 [Business] district.
The third ordinance 2021-2246M would provide a licensing section where the business would be required to apply yearly for a licence to provide for topless dancing which is separate from zoning and reevaluated every year.
Topless and adult entertainment are legal businesses which are zoned for industrial.
Ordinances can be voted on if the three reading rule has been waived. They were not approved by a two to three vote. The ordinances were read at this meeting and are considered the first reading.
Public Hearing on infrastructure
At 7:10 p.m. a public hearing was open to discuss Resolution CDA0318211 recommending approval of an infrastructure project redevelopment plan for the City of Valentine.
Council member Kyle Arganbright moved to the audience and recused himself for this portion of the meeting and Vice President Kieborz presided.
Siewert said this is the TIF project for the area located next to Runza and was approved at the Planning Commission meeting. A new business would go up and a sidewalk would also go in, and offset the sewer and water. The requirement for new businesses along the highway are to have sidewalks so those who are staying at motels further down the street have a safe means to walk to restaurants or town. Siewert said the whole area south of the Cowboy Trail is blighted and they’re able to use TIF to improve the area.
Wescott said he didn’t have a problem with the business getting TIF, but they need to go borrow the money.
Beel said the new business is asking for $40,000 for the sidewalk and will pay it back.
Arganbright said it’s common and that they’re trying to redefine and use the funds to improve the commercial districts.
The resolution passed four to one.
The meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m. and reconvened as the Community Development Agency and approved the TIF bond in a four to one vote.
The meeting adjourned at 9:09 p.m.
