As county commission meetings go, the June 16 meeting of the Coweta County Commission will likely be memorable for many with a stake in the outcome of the attempt by Starship Adult Novelties & Gifts to open its doors at Thomas Crossroads.

Starship is expected to be on the agenda after having received a recommendation from Coweta County’s Tax Rate Review and Appeals Committee to have its business license denial overturned. Committee members on May 20 voted 4-1 to recommend to county commissioners that Starship be issued a business license to operate its Thomas Crossroads location. The meeting was the culmination of an appeal process that began in mid-April.

The proceedings in the nearly 5-hour appeal hearing April 13 revolved around the Feb. 6 denial of Starship’s business license and owner Kerry Rogers’ contention that the decision had been made by Jan. 20 when more than 300 residents packed the commission chambers, ready to demand that commissioners face litigation rather than give in to having Starship operate in the Thomas Crossroads area. It was at the beginning of the Jan. 20 meeting, and prior to public comments, that Commissioner Rodney Brooks read a prepared statement indicating that the business license would be denied.

The issue evolved to its current status after commissioners on Jan. 26 adopted ordinances on sexually-oriented businesses and obscenity. Rogers in response said that from the beginning of the process in late 2008 he had complied with county ordinances, including having less than 25 percent sexually-oriented merchandise, and should be granted a license to operate.

New ordinances notwithstanding, both Rogers and his attorney maintained that Starship is a store that will sell general merchandise that will carry some adult items and that it should be granted a business license.