By By Adam Prestridge
Chick-A-Dee owner Bobby Frye pleaded with members of the Atmore City Council and law enforcement Monday afternoon to give him a “good conduct” six-month trial business license to open his Carver Street nightclub.
Frye, whose business license request was denied by the council on May 12 following recommendations from the Atmore Police Department and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, presented the council with a petition with 12 signatures from nearby residents in favor of the six-month license and documentation showing that he would hire Wind Storm Security Professionals &Body Guards out of Evergreen to maintain crowd control and enforce club rules each night.
Frye went on to add that the problems in the parking lot were not a direct result of the Chick-A-Dee because it was closed for hurricane repairs, but an adjacent club called Happy Days. He also provided to the council a signed statement from Happy Days owner Ida Frye stating that the club would not be reopened and a logbook showing that the Chick-A-Dee was closed on the evenings of the incidents in question.
Mayor Howard Shell presented a list of 47 complaints reported from the Chick-A-Dee at the May 12 meeting.
Not mentioned at the previous council meeting included two murders that occurred on the club’s property.
Atmore public safety director Glen Carlee provided records contradicting Frye’s records.
Carlee reported what he and Frye discussed on June 6 in regards to the security company being hired.
Frye also expressed his disappointment in the city allowing him to go through with the more than $100,000 in repairs to get the building up to code as requested by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the city’s building inspectors. Carlee defended the city, stating that he and Atmore Police Department chief Jason Dean did in fact speak with Frye’s wife, Mary, prior to repairs being performed on the building and stated to her that he would not support a club being reopened at that location.
The council stood firm on their initial decision at the recommendation of local law enforcement and denied the request.
In other business, the council:
Darnell informed the council that the contractors were finished with the sidewalks that were replaced or added along Main Street, Presley Street and MLK Drive.
Shell reported that residents have also been pleased with the work.
Darnell also informed the council that it is time to go forward with applying for additional grant money. Shell agreed to have the council look into areas that may need sidewalks.
As for the street resurfacing project, Darnell said it too was wrapping up. He said that some streets would be resurfaced by the Utilities Board to repair streets following utility replacement.
The plan is renewed annually and is mandated by the State of Alabama.