Spencer shuts down site of prostitution bust

SPENCER - The Spencer Board of Aldermen revoked Highway 29 Dance Studio's business licenses during Tuesday night's regular meeting.After Spencer Police charged a woman at the business with crimes against nature, Code Enforcement Officer Robert Van Geons suggested the town board revoke the business license of owner Pam Leonard.Van Geons said the business was not operating according to the license it was issued. He said he entered the business with the police and saw "no evidence of any sort of dance studio."Spencer Detective Chris Schenk described circumstances around the arrest and Chief Ray Schuler of the Rowan County ABC Police drew a diagram of the business to illustrate its method of operation.In the middle of the presentation, J.D. Steelman, owner of J.D. Electronic and Pawn Shop, jumped up and said he "had been there and taken dance lessons." Mayor Buddy Gettys banged his gavel and told Steelman to sit down, and when he did not, hit it again until Steelman sat. Gettys allowed him to speak later.Van Geons said this morning that Steelman's business was shut down earlier Tuesday for failure to pay for a business license. Steelman owes Spencer $600 and his business can not reopen until the fee is paid, Van Geons said.Steelman has come before the board before, when the town told him to move a camper behind his business, citing city regulations. Steelman maintained it was used as a doghouse for his pets.Van Geons said the issue at the Highway 29 Dance Studio was not about illegal activity but whether Leonard operated "an adult business in an area where such businesses were not allowed."Leonard attended the meeting but did not speak to the board, although Gettys asked her several times if she wished to speak. "We can't let this crap go on in Spencer," said Mayor Pro Tem Tim Witkowski. The board voted unanimously to revoke all of the studio's business licenses.In other business: * The board agreed to send a proclamation urging the owner of Park Plaza Shopping Center, Wesley Nalley, to sell the property or clean it up. Gettys said after the meeting he may send the proclamation to the newspaper in Nalley's home town of Easley, S.C. Aldermen agreed that plans for the renovation and development of the shopping center have been offered repeatedly, with no response. Gettys said he hopes this will encourage action.Park Plaza has been an important issue. Although the town cannot force action, the board has been pushing for renovation and has courted several developers. * At least five candidates for the Spencer board, including mayoral candidate Jody Everhart, attended Tuesday's meeting. * The board will pay up to the $1,600 appraised value of a small piece of land for right of way at Charles Street and Long Ferry Road. The sliver of land is part of the Country Cupboard property. The state will rebuild the intersection, but the town had to get the right of way.* Members Learned that the N.C. Supreme Court may rule on Spencer's annexation dispute with East Spencer on Aug. 20.* The board will continue donating to the Salisbury Post's Partnership in Education program.* The town agreed to purchase new Christmas decorations. Town Manager Kevin Howard described the decorations as eight white angels with white lights; and 26 lamp posts will be decorated with green garland and red bows. Also from Sixth Street to Third Street the crepe myrtles will be decorated with lights.