Boyer Wants County More Welcoming To New Businesses

Jefferson County Councilman Bob Boyer wants to make government less burdensome to new and existing businesses.

“The more we get out of the way and we help businesses come in and succeed, the more it benefits everybody,” Boyer said to an audience of 20 constituents at his first town hall meeting Wednesday night at Simpson Elementary School in Arnold on Wednesday.

Boyer, a Republican, was elected in January to represent the county’s Third District, which includes most of the city of Arnold and unincorporated areas roughly following the boundary of the Fox C-6 School District.

As an example of positive business development, Boyer invited Forrest Kennedy and his wife, Jennifer, to discuss their proposed $7.8-million horse-therapy complex off of Seckman Road, which is expected to begin construction in September.

The Imperial Equine Rehabilitation Veterinary Medical Center would provide horse owners with a single location for surgery, medicine, physical therapy and strengthening facilities.  The 84,000 square foot facility will include a therapy swimming pool and water treadmill to rehabilitate and strengthen race horses.

The Kennedy’s hope to open the center in July 2012.

“This is a project that is totally different than a lot of these cities bringing in retail,” Boyer said. “This is going to bring in clientele from eight different states.  I’m very excited about having it in the city of Arnold. 

Boyer also utilized the town hall to review pending legislation and measures before the County Council including a proposed ordinance to regulate the operating hours of sexually oriented businesses in the county.  The County Council is considering a measure that would force such businesses to close from 10 p.m. to 11 a.m.

Boyer said he is uncertain the legislation is needed.  The current county ordinance requires sexually oriented businesses to be close between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.  State law requires such businesses to close between midnight and 6 a.m.

Boyer said he favors mirroring the state law and doesn’t believe a more stringent ordinance is needed because restrictions on sexually oriented businesses already severely limit where new businesses can operate in the county.

Boyer said there are currently five sexually oriented businesses in the county, including one “gentlemen’s club” and four book and video stores.

“Part of me thinks we should not be regulating businesses unless there is a dire need,” Boyer said.  “I’m not sure it’s needed.”

Boyer said the County Council also is considering changes to the county municipal code to ensure fines for county ordinance violations are paid to the county rather than the state, and rewriting the county’s unified development order to make it easier for new businesses to come into the county and for existing businesses to expand.

Boyer said he plans to hold the town hall sessions every six months.