Augusta County is weighing its options to determine what it can do to have more control over where adult stores open. The Board of Supervisors heard recommendations from the County Attorney Monday.

Andrea Oakes doesn't want more adult businesses coming to the area. She's been working with a Citizens Task Force asking officials to limit where adult stores, like the one that opened in Staunton a little more than a week ago, can set-up.

"It's so important because of those harmful secondary effects, the proven harmful secondary effects to our children, and to our community," says Oakes.

When Augusta County proposes its ordinances, the county will have to prove those negative effects through studies done around the country.

"It is a First Amendment right, so you have to be very careful about what you ask for, and will it stand the test of the judicial system," says Oakes.

The Board of Supervisors heard two kinds of options from the County Attorney.

The first was zoning ordinances, which could determine that stores setup up all in one area or that they would have to be a certain footage away from homes, schools and churches.

The other could be policing ordinances, in which owners could only set-up shop after a strict background check, the county could make sure there was no nudity on the outside of the store, and if needed, could prevent contact between any performers at the business and patrons.

Larry Howdyshell says Supervisors agree they may have to pick a combination of these and that it's important to keep stores away from children.

"We spend money in our schools to put filters on our computers. It's very important that we keep those things away from schools," says Howdyshell.

Howdyshell is seeking reelection to the board in November. His opponent, Dr. Charles Curry, says that adult stores need to be prevented from setting up next to schools, churches and residential areas.