Storey County looks at tougher regs for brothels

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999 | 9:06 a.m.

The county commission is considering adopting tighter restrictions on who can own and operate the legal houses of prostitution.

The majority of the commission remains opposed to the idea of banning the brothels outright.

But Commissioner Greg "Bum" Hess said it's time to put some teeth in the county's brothel ordinance.

"Nye County has a strong, 52-page ordinance. Ours is four pages," Hess said Tuesday.

"Certainly, I'm not a fan of rescinding the ordinance (that allows brothels to exist in the county) but we have to have more control."

Commissioner Carl Trink also made it clear he doesn't support action that would lead to a possible ban on brothels.

"I'd never vote to rescind the ordinance," Trink said at the Virginia City meeting.

Commission Chairman Chuck Haynes brought up the idea. After being advised the item wasn't placed on the agenda with sufficient notice, commissioners agreed to continue the debate in early November.

"It's always been in the best interests of county residents to either have a (prostitution) industry that's controlled - or not to have the industry at all," Haynes said.

The federal government shut down two brothels at the Mustang Ranch last month as part of a fraud and conspiracy case.

Only one brothel currently remains open in Storey County, the Old Bridge Ranch east of Reno owned by David Burgess. The commission voted earlier this year to yank his license because of his association with the Hells Angels. But the panel's action later was overturned in court.

Burgess, who attended Tuesday's meeting, said he wants to continue building a better relationship with officials. Sheriff Pat Whitten said he and other officials went over operations with Burgess and were satisfied he is meeting all requirements.

Burgess said he is talking to potential investors about selling the property and hopes to work out an acceptable deal.

Brothel industry lobbyist George Flint, who represents former Mustang Ranch owner A.G.E. Corp. and has been retained by Burgess, said two potential buyers of the brothel are in active discussions about a possible acquisition.

Flint said one potential buyer is from Lyon County and another from Nye County. He declined to identify them.

Both Lyon and Nye have what Flint described as "benchmark ordinances" covering brothels, and he suggested Storey officials look closely at them.

"Storey needs a new and improved ordinance," Flint said.

Prostitution was legalized in Storey County in 1971. With the closure of the Mustang ranches, the county stands to lose $233,00 a year in brothel, liquor and boarding house licenses, about a sixteenth of the entire budget.