GLENWOOD, IOWA – Iowa’s Mills County has a new set of regulations for strip clubs. The county was worried about a growing red light district outside of Glenwood and just across the river from Bellevue and Omaha, Neb.

Romantix adult bookstore is on Interstate 29 at the Highway 370 exit. There are two new strip clubs being built nearby.

Monday morning, residents packed the county board meeting and watched as commissioners passed a new ordinance to impose new restrictions on sexually oriented businesses.

“We were so dismayed,” said Valerie Ware, a concerned resident.

The ordinance took more than 30 minutes to read aloud. It will require a license to operate or work at a sexually oriented business. What goes on behind the doors of adult clubs will be restricted. Semi-nude employees must be 6 feet from any customer and on a stage at least 2 feet from the floor.

“There’s no way we can flat out ban these businesses, that’s a constitutional issue,” said Marci Prier, the Mills County attorney. “What we’re doing is limiting to semi-nudity. Everything, within reason, is covered.”

The two new businesses will have to comply with the new laws. Ronald Bergeron, the owner of one of the clubs, said he plans to run a legitimate business and fully comply with the new rules.

Residents hope the ordinance will deter other such operations from picking Mills County. Residents and lawmakers looked at anecdotal evidence from the Fremont County sheriff, who reported countless incidents with drugs and alcohol in Hamburg directly related to Shotgun Geniez adult club.