The manager of a Lady Lake internet cafe made a second plea for mercy to Sumter County commissioners Tuesday night during a workshop meeting.
While commissioners agreed her case was over, they debated whether changes to the ordinance were needed.
Kay Patel, senior center manager at Lady Lake on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 said it was her fault that a renewal was not submitted before the cafe’s permit expired in November.
The store was one of about a dozen existing cafes allowed to remain open when the Internet Cafe Ordinance was passed two years ago, but it didn’t meet strict standards for new cafes. Because the senior center is located within 300 feet of a residential property, it is not eligible for a new permit.
Last week, commissioners denied Patel’s request for an extension until he could apply for another permit elsewhere. On Tuesday night, she filed her complaint again.
“I hope I can keep my job until I can find a new one,” she says.
The cafe is now being accused of continuing to operate without a permit.
Committee members may not take formal actions at workshop meetings.
County Commissioner Craig Estep said he could not reverse the cafe’s license revocation without jeopardizing the county’s authority over other cafes.
But he said the new application would be viewed favorably because the senior center had no violations until this week.
Commissioner Jeffrey Bogue agreed that the senior center’s case is over, but said changes to the ordinance are needed to prevent future problems.
“We want to encourage local small businesses,” he said. “We would like to consider changing the ordinance in the future.”
Under an ordinance approved in early 2022, new internet cafes cannot be located within 300 feet of a residential property or within 2,500 feet of a school, child care center, day care center, church, public park, playground, or library. you can’t.
Commissioner Andrew Bilardello said these requirements are too strict because 2,500 feet is about half a mile.
But Estep and Commissioner Roberta Ulrich said they wanted to prevent public safety concerns that prompted the ordinance after Lake Panasofkee residents complained about drugs, loitering and theft at Internet cafes. He said that this restriction was necessary to
Although some permits have been revoked, most cafes, which are regularly inspected, remain open without any building or public safety violations.
County Governor Bradley Arnold said there are other cafes that remain open without permits.
“Not all the villains have been eliminated,” he says.
Arnold said the new Internet cafes could be located in industrial or local commercial areas, such as along Interstate 75. No permits have been issued for new cafes since the ordinance took effect.
