Murphy, North Carolina – When the town started seeing restaurants that serve alcohol, some people feared and others rumored that strip clubs or other adult establishments may come to town.

The town council quickly worked to calm those fears, passing an ordinance restricting adult establishments from being within 1,000 feet of any child-care center, church, home, park, recreation area or school.

“What we’re talking about is girly shows,” council member Bill Wells said at the town meeting Sept. 2.

Mayor Bill Hughes said when you stop and look, the ordinance restricts adult establishments from being within town limits.

Hughes said other towns and cities have had problems associated with adult establishments and once they are set up, without an ordinance, there is nothing the town can do.

“We felt like it might be something that might be coming,” Hughes said. So two to three months ago, town attorney Mack Cowan began working on an ordinance.

Hughes said no one has approached the town about opening an establishment, but he has received many phone calls of residents upset that one might open.

Adult establishments include book stores, movie theaters, live entertainment or massage businesses of an adult nature.

Penalties for operating this type of business include a fine of up to $500 an 30 days in jail for each day it is in operation.