No news was great news to the almost 150 residents who packed the Destin City Council chambers for a vote Monday night on a possible strip club settlement.
In advance of the meeting, Patti Terjak, a spokeswoman for a group of residents opposed to the Runway, called the meeting “the big showdown.”
But the showdown ended without a word from the opposition or from the Destin City Council, which appears to be settling in for what might be a lengthy and costly court battle.
“If there is no motion made tonight that mean this city council is not gonna accept the settlement agreement that’s out on the floor,” Mayor Sarah “Sam” Seevers told the crowd after the council met behind closed doors for about an hour to discuss legal strategy and what court filings stated was an “agreement in principle” between the city and an Atlanta business consortium that wants to open the city’s first strip club on Airport Road.
No motion followed, so Land Use Attorney Scott Shirley said the city will schedule upcoming executive sessions to discuss the strip club and formulate further legal strategy.
The crowd erupted in applause and cheering.
Residents and businesses near the proposed site voiced the initial protests to the opening of the business, called The Runway, and a large group of citizens have since come together in vocal opposition. Since word got out about a possible settlement last month, Citizens for a Greater Destin has been rallying residents. More than 100 packed last week’s city council meeting and gave city leaders an earful.
After the meeting Monday, residents felt a sense of relief.
"The city did a good job and the right thing," said Mike Ginn, a Destin resident who attended the meeting.
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Destin Log Reporter Matt Algarin was at tonight's City Council meeting and offered a live play-by-play of the meeting.
To read more about the outcome of the proposed strip club settlement, click here.
To see a video of the public portion of the meeting, click here.
To follow along through the rest of the meeting, CLICK HERE.