City of Springfield shuts down massage parlors violating ordinance - FOX Illinois

[mnews]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill (WICS) — The city of Springfield confirmed several massage parlors have been shut down due to violating city ordinances.

Officials said it's been a months long process since the city approved an ordinance requiring massage parlors to register with the city in June.

NewsChannel 20 spoke to the city's corporation counsel today and confirmed Red Bean Massage Spa, Providence Spa, Q2 Asian Massage, Jade Spa, Cozy Cabin Spa, Fitness Massage, and Illinois Relax Spa have been shut down in violation with the massage parlor ordinance.

"Each of these locations that we went [to on Friday] and inspected had indications of massage therapy occurring without any licensed massage therapist on the premises,” Corporation Counsel Greg Moredock said.

Moredock said the city's completed more than a hundred inspections into massage parlors since the ordinance went into effect.

Moredock said they've also had more than a hundred and fifty contacts with massage establishments.

It's been the combined effort of city officials, the Public Works department, and law enforcement.

"I think the city has a good workflow--I think that there was a lot to roll out in the beginning. City officials and city staff really know what to expect and how to address new massage establishments as they look to open up within the city,” Moredock said.

Moredock said the ordinance helps to keep track of massage establishments.

Mitchell Flynn, the building code official for the city of Springfield, said joining forces simplifies the process for the city and business owners alike.

"Depending on what kind of inspection we're doing, we usually try to do a joint combined inspection, so any group that needs to be involved. So in this instance we used building inspectors, zone inspectors, and we also had individuals from the Liquor Commission,” Flynn said.

Flynn said the city had to build a fair system first.

"So you know you have a different department and they have different schedules already. So trying to fit all these different inspectors in when they also have other jobs to do--yeah it takes some time and effort especially to fine tune it for everybody,” Flynn said.

Moredock said the city is going to hold both business and building owners accountable for violations of the ordinance.

Moredock told NewsChannel 20 this is a complex issue. But he said enforcement of the ordinance is a step in the right direction.

The city has not yet released the full list of massage parlors violating the ordinance. Moredock said the city plans to release that sometime this week.