CENTERVILLE — City Council voted on Tuesday to accept the agreement between the city and local business owner Courtney Bibb, which, among other things, removes part of the city code dealing with fortunetelling and other spiritual services.
Under the agreement, the city repealed city ordinance 85-1 of the city code, which states that profiting from fortunetelling, palm reading and other spirituality services was prohibited in the city of Centerville. It also states that Bibb understands the repeal means she is still responsible for adhering to Centerville business regulations, which include obtaining the necessary permits for alcohol, food and massage services currently being offered at the establishment.
The council voted to repeal the section of the city code related to the case immediately following its vote for the agreement.
Bibb filed a federal lawsuit against the city last month after she received a letter from the city stating she couldn’t profit from spirituality services, including fortunetelling, in a city-sanctioned establishment. In her lawsuit, she said the city’s orders violated her First Amendment rights.
Also, officials spoke of the possibility of tax or utility-rate increases to help offset a shortfall of about $536,000.
Councilman Edward Tucker said a millage rate increase of one mill would bring in about $185,000 in a year for the city. A 10 percent rate increase on city water bills would bring in about $179,000.
“We’d still come well short of the money coming out of the fund balance,” Tucker said. “This is a 10-year-old problem that hasn’t been addressed.”
The city also needs to work on ideas to spend the last of funds in the city’s special purpose local option sales tax account from 2001. Tucker said $4,702 remains.
Part of it will go toward supplies for City Hall. A laptop computer for Municipal Court use also was suggested.
To contact writer Marlon A. Walker, call 256-9685.
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