Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A
October 15, 2008
C ouncil
rejects
biker club
meetings
worried
about the alcoh
f
- Councilman Mike Dodd
BY JOLEE VAUGHN
The Black Spider
Motorcycle Club will not be
able to meet at 50 South
Jackson Street after
Forsyth’s city council
couldn’t muster the voters
to honor their request last
Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Council voted 3-1 in favor
of letting the Black Spiders
use the space, located
behind Bank of America,
for meetings. But with
Desi Hansford and Lamar
Russell absent from the
meeting, a majority of the
mayor and council - four
affirmative votes - was
required. The affirmative
votes of Rosemary Walker,
James Calloway, and
Melvin Lawrence were not
enough for approval. Mike
Dodd was the one opposi
tion vote. While council
denid it, the planning and
zoning board had approved
a conditional use permit
for the facility on Aug. 25.
According to a represen
tative of the club who
addressed the council, the
Black Spider Motorcycle
Club is a “family and com
munity oriented club” com
posed of “middle class
family men with employ
ment.” The representative
said that the club occupy
ing the area would
“enhance the area by keep
ing the building and areas
around the building clean.”
He said, “The glory days of
Hell’s Angels are over. We
help the community with a
toy give away and cookout
every year for children.
Please don’t stereotype.”
There were supporters of
the club in attendance
including Viviane, a citizen
of Forsyth and single par
ent who stated, “this club
helps people who cannot
help themselves.”
Councilman Melvin
Lawrence stated, “ I have
seen first hand some of the
club’s work, and I can
attest they are on the right
road.”
But motorcycles and the
noise they can bring to a
neighborhood came into
question. Former city zon
ing official Frank Vaughan,
a resident of nearby Lee
Street, had questions for
the council. He said, “I am
not in opposition, but I do
have some questions. Will
there be noise late at
night? How many motorcy
cles will there be? What
time of night?” The repre
sentative of the club
addressed there questions
stating, “there are plenty of
other vehicles in Forsyth
that make just as much or
more noise as motorcycles,
and we will follow all noise
ordinances.”
Another issue brought up
in the hearing was the con
sumption of alcohol on the
premises. The club was not
applying for a license to
serve alcohol; nonetheless,
it was a concern.
Councilman Mike Dodd
asked, “Are there any
intentions for an alcohol
license?” The representa
tive for the club answered,
“Not at this time.”
However, Dodd said later
in discussion with other
council members, “I have
the utmost admiration for
the club, but I am worried
about the alcohol. It (the
conditional use permit
requested) is not compliant
with the neighborhood.”
'•Reporter
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