MURFREESBORO — Leaders here have implemented a moratorium on Internet sweepstakes cafes, but acknowledged the inevitability that those types of businesses will be coming.

 

On Tuesday the Murfreesboro Town Council implemented a one year moratorium on the businesses following a public hearing on the matter.

On March 19 the Murfreesboro Planning Board unanimously recommended the council adopt the moratorium resolution in order for the council to further study Internet cafe operations. The town currently does not have anything on the books to regulate such businesses.

Councilman Randy Roberts moved to adopt the moratorium. Councilwoman Gloria Odum offered a second and the motion passed without objection.

Later during council comments, Councilman Hal Thomas suggested a group of planning board members, council members and members community at large make recommendations on the regulations, which would be decided upon by the council.

“The state has already said we have to allow them,” he said. “Where we allow them would be a consensus of this group.”

Mayor Pro-Tempore Sarah Wallace suggested Town Administrator Brandon Holland contact other communities to see how they are handling the issue.

Roberts said the council needed to find out as much information as it can.

“We’re not going to stop them, so, we need to regulate them appropriately,” he said.

Planning Board member Kenny Thomas, who was in attendance, said he has been researching Internet sweepstake cafes and collecting information about ordinances on these types of businesses. He said he hoped to present that information at the next Planning Board meeting.