By Susan K. Lamb Riverbend News
Recently, the Live Oak City Council expressed concern about local sweepstakes cafés in the city limits. Now the county has set a public hearing for Tuesday, April 6, on that issue within the county. The Suwannee County Commission has received complaints on the hours for these cafés for some time according to board chairman Len Stapleton.
The hearing will be held April 6 at 6:05 p.m. or as soon thereafter at the regular county commission meeting at the Judicial Annex Building located at 218 Parshley St. SW in downtown Live Oak next to the Third Circuit State Attorney's Office. The public is invited to attend and express any concerns or comments on the issue of these cafés.
This issue came up at the Tuesday, March 9, Suwannee County Commission meeting when local business owner Hannah Skinner spoke to the board about her concerns over these cafés, including one near her business. Skinner said she supports regulating the hours these cafes can be open. "My workday starts very early in the morning and the internet café next to me will have numerous people in their parking lot and the trash or whatever they are serving ends up in my parking lot," she told the board. Skinner went on to say that upon arrival at her business in the early hours of the morning there are people in the café's parking lot. Skinner said she arrived at 5 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 22, to her studio at the same time as two of her clients and the parking lot was filled with deputies as the café had been robbed at gunpoint prior to her arrival. "On Feb. 12, upon arrival early in the morning, my clients and myself witnessed two men in a physical altercation in the parking lot! The café offers no security, so it was up to me to call law enforcement," she told the board. "These events have directly affected my business!" Skinner told the board. "Due to the circumstances like this, the only effective policy is to establish reasonable hours for these cafés," she stated.
Skinner said these businesses go by the names of Sweepstakes Cafés, Cyber Cafés and Adult Arcades and operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Stapleton said it has been an issue in his office for the last year with complaints of large numbers of people gathering in parking lots at these businesses. Stapleton said he could support a midnight closing of the cafés.
County Administrator Randy Harris said in order to bring this issue back before the board, the public meeting should take place. Commissioner Don Hale asked Harris to find out how many of these cafés are in business in Suwannee County.
Harris said he's not sure what the city is doing on this issue, but Commissioner Travis Land asked him to reach out and find out for the board.
County Attorney Jimmy Prevatt said he's been in contact with the city and their council and the city wants to get together with the commission to talk about this issue. Stapleton suggested having a temporary opening and closing time until the issue is settled. Harris suggested the board address the hours at the public hearing and then come back with that issue at another meeting to consider.
"I want all businesses to be able to operate and be productive, but it doesn't matter what type of business it is, it can't be at the expense of other businesses," Stapleton stated. He noted he expects folks will come to the meeting to offer their feelings on the issue when the hearing is held.
Some of these same issues came up at a recent Live Oak City Council meeting regarding the various cafés which has led to both the council and county commission sharing info and talking about a joint meeting to be scheduled.