Proposal to limit Fort Wayne strip club hours gets nixed

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - A proposal that would have forced Fort Wayne's strip clubs to end dances at midnight has been set aside indefinitely.

City Council members voted 5-4 on Tuesday to table the proposed ordinance.

Republican Councilman Russ Jehl argued the step was needed because of a large number of police calls to the city's eight strip clubs after midnight for troubles exacerbated by what he called the "toxic mix" of late-night alcohol and sex.

An attorney for several of the clubs said they represented a small portion of the city's police calls and that the city could expect a lawsuit if Jehl's proposal was approved.

Republican Councilman John Crawford voted against the closing ordinance, saying he was concerned about singling out the strip clubs when other businesses also have many police calls.