The club's location will draw a certain type of customer. If the rule enforcement is strict, it will drive this same customer away. Tough way to make a living.
Augusta commissioners on Wednesday approved a probationary period for a club that officials say has been plagued by criminal activity.
The 7-2 vote places Club Platinum on a 90-day probation, which requires club owners to keep four Richmond County sheriff's deputies on hand during business hours. The club at the 1500 block of North Leg Road is for those 18 and older.
As recently as Saturday, a 19-year-old woman told police she was held at gunpoint after attempting to leave the club, Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Tony Hyatt told commissioners Wednesday. In August, a shooting occurred in the club's parking lot, the third such incident there in two years.
Wednesday marked the second time Club Platinum's owners offered to provide added security to avoid losing their license. Earlier this year, Club Platinum was put on a 90-day probationary period.
Commissioner Alvin Mason on Wednesday supported revoking the club owners' business license.
"I'm very troubled behind this. I thought we said we would amp up security," Mr. Mason said to the owners of Club Platinum. "I'm sympathetic to the issue of jobs being lost, but my biggest priority is the safety of our citizens."
Commissioner Joe Bowles tried to present a substitute motion that would have revoked the club's license. But City General Counsel Chiquita Johnson told commissioners in a legal session that revoking the owner's license would not be legally possible without a 10-day notice.
Commissioners then decided to vote on a previous motion for the 90-day probationary period.
Rakeim McMorris, co-owner of Club Platinum, said he was relieved to hear that commissioners approved the probation. The owners have restricted the lot to one entrance and one exit. They also plan to have security staff and volunteers on hand to help man the parking lot.
"I think we're all trying to reach the same goal of keeping the young people safe," Mr. McMorris said. "I hope we can show them that we are trying to do our part."
Also on Wednesday, commissioners voted unanimously to place SoundTrack Supper Club on a 90-day probation. In December, a Richmond County sheriff's deputy was shot at the site.
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
The club's location will draw a certain type of customer. If the rule enforcement is strict, it will drive this same customer away. Tough way to make a living.
Change the name to Club Plantation!!!!
The certain type of customers are called club goers. I do not go to clubs so I am not a customer.
Change your name to Mental Midget.
Look at who goes to those clubs. Kids acting like thugs and thinking that they are impressing someone. All they are doing is showing their stupidity and lack of decent upbriging.
PatT where were you yesterday? I didn't hear a word from you. I hope you weren't ill.
After the first instance, change the county ordinance to read the "business will be fined $20,000.00 per instance and they will be required to post a $1 million bond! The only way to get their attention is to hit them in the pocket book HARD!!! Then let them decide how much security they need!! By the way I wonder what the insurance and bond for this type of establishment is? I have tried to find something in the city code, but there is nothing there!!!
White Trash you are stupid!!! How about we change the name to White Trash Trailer Park. A safe place to hangout for you and your friends. Now, Plantation That.
i guess it is going to take a child losing his/her life to get the attention of the so called "commissioners" to act in the best interest of the public. this club offers very little in the way of an economic force when it gets to the point of calling out for volunteers to become targets you know there is a problem. what good will volunteers be when they are looking down the business end of a loaded weapon??? will these volunteers be allowed to carry weapons also, priobably not, this is just a public relation stunt to appease the idiots on the commission who voted to allow this place to remain open, anyone who gets hurt or killed during this 90 day period should be allowed to sue each and every member on the commission who voted to allow this potential death trap to remain open. this is not a racial issue, it is an issue of public safety, the owners of the club claim they "can't afford security" but there is consistant problems with violence and shootings, now they are asking for "volunteers" to police the parking lot to prevent further trouble. so what is going to happen if a volunteer gets shot and killed, will more volunteers be asked for to protect the volunteers?????
Maybe if the police would help instead of being part of the problem these problems would be solved.
Police are what part of the problem, d1216? I mean aside from getting shot at?
d126???? what are you talking about??? please explain to me how are the police part of the problem...let see they are doing a job that very few can or will do, there job is to keep the peace...so i guess because they won't let lyserine or his friend tangeray shoot, rob, or sell drugs outside a club that is why they are the problem. no the problem is small minded people like you who enable this type of behavior and seek to make excuses for it, maybe because you go to clubs like this or have a child who you let run wild. they need to pull the license of all clubs after one violent incident or have mandatory police protection consisting of at least 5 officers at the owners expense. if they can't affor adaquate protection then they don't need to open a club so someone will gert shot
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