BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
During the Prattville City Council meeting Tuesday night, Mayor Bill Gillespie reported to council members regarding the status of the Blue Iguana/Bama Lanes business license.
“Staff has been communicating with the Blue Iguana with their point of contact regarding the conditions agreed upon during the October council meeting,” Mayor Gillespie said. “Staff will be sending out a letter tomorrow, unless otherwise instructed by council. We will not be reissuing a business license to the Blue Iguana until they comply with the previously agreed upon conditions.”
The current business license for both Blue Iguana and Bama Lanes expires at the end of this month. If this issue is not resolved, the businesses could not operate legally in the city.
In October the Council held a public hearing to address concerns with security issues, the high number of calls by police to the Blue Iguana, and the shooting of a man in the parking lot that resulted in his death. Also discussed was a requirement that an adjoining door between the two businesses be locked during normal business hours. Also, the Blue Iguana would be required to apply for a separate Lounge liquor license. Currently both businesses operate under a single Restaurant liquor license.
In October the Council favored allowing the Blue Iguana time to make some changes regarding security and access between the two connected businesses. Officials said Tuesday night that due to a lack of progress on those changes, they will once again reach out to the business owner. However, if conditions are not met the businesses would not be allowed to operate without current licenses after January.
The Elmore/Autauga News reached out to Attorney Jim DeBardalaben, who represents the owners of the Blue Iguana and Bama Lanes, and we will update with any response.
During the October meeting discussion was that security would not just be inside the building but in the parking lot. Bama Lanes is unique in that the business does own a portion of the parking lot, where the majority of issues involving law enforcement intervention have occurred.
During that meeting, Councilman Robert Strichik said that he and Councilman Blair Gornto have probably received the most questions from residents with concerns for safety.
“(Blair’s) district butts up to mine,” Strichik said. “My concern still is, I know it is a business and people work there. But kids work there at Zaxby’s, and Arby’s and people around the bowling alley. It is going to take one bullet. As far as the professional security, how will it be different from the security they are already using?”
Council members discussed having authorized training for security personnel.
Another suggestion was to lock the interior door between the two buildings during regular business hours.
“It would basically remain locked during business hours so that customers from the bar could not come out into Bama Lanes and visa versa,” City Attorney Andrew Odom said in October. “I have also discussed this issue with the Fire Department. Would that be a fire code issue? They have told me that it would not be.”
Jim DeBardalaben, the attorney for the Blue Iguana, said in October that the business was taking the issues seriously, and had made steps for safety improvements.
“We have already put in stronger lighting on the outside on the part we own. We are working with the Fire Department…to make sure we are doing it right,” he said referring to securing the door between the two businesses,” DeBardalaben said at that time.
“On the certified personnel there are two or three businesses we are talking to right now to provide that. These people are supposed to be experts and tell us how many people they will need.”
He also told the council at that time that a stronger loitering ordinance would benefit property owners in general.
“We have no interest in having any type of problems. Problems kill business,” he said in October. “We will police our property.”
Tuesday night, Mayor Gillespie said it has now been more than 60 days to allow the business to make changes to help with security, but enough progress has not been made. The city will once again try to work with the owners, but until that time a new license will not be issued.
