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Adult Club's Sign Bothers Pinellas Park Residents

Tribune photo by STEPHEN THOMPSON

The billboard outside the Bottoms Up Gentlemens Club, 8804 66th St. N., meets the county requirements for billboards, said Ryan Thomas, the manager of the club.

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 17, 2008

Updated: 01/17/2008 04:28 pm

PINELLAS PARK She's wearing only a thong and giving every motorist on 66th Street a come-hither look. But not everyone is thrilled.

Since a billboard featuring a scantily clad woman was recently put up outside a gentlemen's club, complaints have been made at the police department and with city code workers, authorities say.

We've had some people make comments about it, like the city manager, the mayor — 'Have you seen that?'" said Capt. Sanfield Forseth of the Pinellas Park Police Department.

But the billboard outside the Bottoms Up Gentlemens Club, 8804 66th St. N., meets the county requirements for billboards, said Ryan Thomas, the manager of the club.

"We met with everybody. We got it all approved with the county," Thomas said. "Everything's legit. … and they can't do anything about it."

Carl Brody, the senior assistant county attorney, said the billboard does not violate the county sign ordinance or its adult-use ordinance. It meets the county's height and setback requirements, he said.

Further, none of the model's "specified anatomical" areas, such as her breasts or anal cleft, are exposed, he said. The second 'e' in the word, Gentlemens, is strategically placed over the part of the thong that is at the top of the anal cleft, so what the viewer sees is basically the woman's hip, he said.

Forseth, the Pinellas Park police captain, said the club is not within Pinellas Park's city limits but in an unincorporated part of the county. If it were located in city limits, it wouldn't be in business because the city doesn't allow topless bars.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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