Rent-A-Center won't be able to open a kiosk offering short-term loans, after Nye County Commissioners voted 3-1 Tuesday to uphold a recommendation by the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission requiring a 1,500-foot distance between check cashing and payday loan businesses.

Rent-a-Center is next door to Super Pawn in front of Smith's Food and Drug Store at 671 S. Highway 160.

Nye County Commissioner Lorinda Wichman cast the sole vote against Commissioner Butch Borasky's motion to uphold the RPC recommendation and add a 500-foot separation from residences. Commissioner Gary Hollis was absent.

Attorney Tony Celeste explained it would be providing mostly short-term loans. Few clients would borrow money for an entire year during which they may face 400 percent interest.

"They're essentially an alternative banking system provided to clients," Celeste said.

Celeste said a customer borrowing $100 for two weeks would pay $18 interest, which is preferrable to missing a car payment and raising their credit card score.

Wichman wanted an explanation of the intent of the ordinance when it was written.

"I am just not convinced yet that we know why it's there," she said.

Resident John Koenig held up an advertisement for a loan company admitting they charged almost a 200 percent interest rate. He said other towns have similar ordinances with minimum distances, and even a quota on the number of such businesses per population to prevent urban blight.

The RPC wanted to prevent the proliferation of payday loans and check cashing businesses. RPC member Nevada Tolladay presented a survey of ordinances enacted by other communities.

Celeste said Pahrump has a different situation than other communities, with no downtown zone.