The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners passed a tougher adult entertainment establishment ordinance during its meeting Tuesday.

The board heard testimony from law enforcement and real estate appraisers about the negative impact of such establishments.

Commissioner Jim Hubbard said the county's old ordinance was created in the mid-1990s. He said the county began getting inquiries about a year ago about its ordinance and where adult entertainment establishments could go.

"In 1994, nobody dreamed of anybody opening an adult entertainment business in Cherokee," he said. The county passed a moratorium last year on issuing licenses for adult entertainment establishments until the ordinance could be updated.

Included in the new amendment are distance requirements. Adult entertainment establishments can not be within 750 feet of all residential districts, churches, schools or parks. Hubbard said the new ordinance also includes a process of application for such a business, something the old ordinance did not have.

Law enforcement officials testified during the public hearing about the criminal element that can be found at such establishments.

"It has been my experience that these clubs attract street level prostitution," said Capt. Scott Seagraves of the Cherokee Sheriff's Office, who formerly worked with the Atlanta Police Department as an undercover agent for vice and narcotics.

Richard Childers, a real estate appraiser, testified about the impact to property values these businesses can have.

"They damage at least three properties," he said, referring to the parcels on either side and across the street. "Nobody wants to rent it, nobody wants to buy it and nobody wants to be there. The only people who want to buy it are other strip club owners. That is not a good thing."

He added that the appearance of these businesses have a lasting impact on the surrounding area.

"Those areas stay down. They never redevelop," he said.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners discussed the following items during its meeting Tuesday:

Approved modifications to the adult entertainment ordinance;

Scheduled a public hearing on June 1 for revisions to the Cherokee County Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance;

Chairman Buzz Ahrens discussed his participation in an Atlanta Regional Commission Leadership Involvement Networking Knowledge (LINK) trip to Phoenix;

Approved the Cherokee Water and Sewerage Authority's capital program;

Postponed discussion of parking restrictions in specific locations within the Grantham Park subdivision based on locations that impair proper site distance, locations that are too close to intersections and locations requested by the Fire Marshal's Office. The issue will come back on June 1;

Approved a $27,914 contract with Keith Pritchett Roofing for replacement and improvements to roofs for fire Stations 5 and 15;

Approved a resolution for allocation of $16.1 million in recovery zone facility bonds to Vince Merolla Enterprises Inc. and declared a recovery zone. The bond is to help facilitate the construction of a medical office complex, retail and office buildings, a nursing facility and other buildings for the mixed-use project Village at Sixes Road;

Approved a $25,000 budget transfer for green space projects at the Garland Mountain Horse and Hike Trails park;

Approved two easements at Cline Park in Waleska for power lines

Approved the purchase of utility vehicle for the county parks and recreation department for $6,661 from Greenville Turf & Tractor;

Approved the purchase of an infield rake for dragging ball fields for $10,736 from Greenville Turf and Tractor;

Approved the purchase of an auger attachment for a Vermeer Trail Machine for $3,070 from Vermeer Marietta; and

Approved the purchase of a Ford F350 with dump body for $27,145 from Wade Ford.

At a work session before the meeting, the board discussed the failed attempt through the state delegation to get another Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax penny for the county and heard an update on the tax digest, which will decrease this year.

The board went into executive session to discuss personnel, real estate and litigation. After the session, the board approved a $6,000 settlement agreement for stormwater improvements at 2122 Yorkshire Court in Woodstock.