Wichita council suspends license of inflatables operator
The Wichita City Council has suspended the license of an inflatable amusement operator for 90 days, saying it violated a city ordinance and did not have its rides properly inspected.
The suspension issued to Duane Zogleman, owner of Moonwalks For Fun Inc., will go into effect within five days. Moonwalks For Fun owns the equipment operated by Pure Entertainment, a facility near Kellogg and Tyler.
"In my mind it was very clear what they had to do, and they didn't do it," said Vice Mayor Jeff Longwell, who voted in favor of the license suspension.
The council voted 6-1, with Mayor Carl Brewer in opposition. Brewer said he voted against the measure because, "I don't believe that it's long enough."
During the suspension, Moonwalks For Fun will not be allowed to operate inflatable rides at Pure Entertainment or elsewhere.
Wichita police revoked the amusement ride license April 1. The business has been allowed to operate during the appeals process.
Inspection certificates for 40 rides owned by Moonwalks For Fun had been submitted by Jesse Zogleman, Duane Zogleman's son, who manages Pure Entertainment.
Jesse Zogleman was not certified to inspect portable amusement rides, as required by city ordinance. Duane Zogleman said he didn't know his son's certification through the Amusement Industry Manufacturers and Suppliers International was not current. Police said Jesse Zogleman's certification expired in 2008.
Duane Zogleman said the rides have since been inspected by an independent, nationally certified inspector and were deemed safe.
Five-year-old Matthew Branham died March 22 after falling from an inflatable at Pure Entertainment and hitting his head on a concrete floor.
Mark Schoenhofer, an attorney representing Zogleman, said last month that the city's revocation of Pure Entertainment's license "has nothing to do with" the March 22 incident.
This story was originally published May 18, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Wichita council suspends license of inflatables operator."