CENTERVILLE — The owner of a spirituality shop has settled a lawsuit she filed against the city of Centerville claiming it was impeding her rights to do the business she chose, her attorney said Tuesday.
Courtney Bibb, owner of Energy Among Us at 100 N. Houston Lake Road, had been ordered to stop offering certain services, including fortune telling, because of a 1985 ordinance prohibiting “spiritualism and kindred services.” She said the ordinance, among other things, had violated her constitutional rights, calling the law unconstitutionally vague.
Her attorney, Charles E. Cox Jr. of Macon, said the city has agreed to repeal Ordinance 85-1, which is at issue, allowing Bibb to continue business in the city.
“Ms. Bibb is proud to be a part of the Centerville business community, where the Mayor and Council clearly value, and are willing to take action to protect, its citizens’ Freedom of Speech rights,” Cox said in a written statement.
Centerville officials met Monday for an executive session, where the settlement was hashed out.
Centerville City Administrator Patrick Eidson said the city will formalize its agreement with Bibb at the May 4 council meeting.
“From our perspective it was always a business license and ordinance compliance issue,” Eidson said. “She’s now going to comply with rules for any other businesses in Centerville.”
Centerville Mayor John Harley said last week that fortune telling was acceptable if offered free of charge. Because Bibb was charging and hadn’t gone through the proper channels to do so, it was against what was called for in city rules.
To contact writer Marlon A. Walker, call 256-9685.
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