The owner of a tattoo parlor said to the Sycamore City Council Monday that his business would discourage unsafe tattooing.

“I set my standards really high,” said Craig Murphy, owner of “Color of a Different Skin,” a tattoo parlor he is trying to open at 1572 DeKalb Ave.

“I use brand new needles on every customer so there is no chance of communicable diseases,” Murphy said.

Murphy also wrote a letter to the council which was read out loud. The letter stated that a lot of people get unsafe tattoos at parties using “the wrong type of equipment” like guitar strings, thread needles and Indian ink.

“People getting tattooed have no place to go and receive a professional tattoo in this area,” the letter stated. “People are ending up with unsanitary conditions and poor quality work.”

The council did not vote on the opening of the parlor. The proposal will be sent to the planning commission that will make their recommendation to the council in December.

Murphy, who had several supporters at the meeting with him, was not questioned by the council except for Alderman Gary Smith who asked Sycamore Police Chief Dale Vesta to make a background check on Murphy.

Smith said the checks are routine for tavern owners who need licenses, unlike tattoo parlors.

Murphy said he would have “no problem” cooperating with the check and he met with Vesta after the meeting.

Last spring, Murphy ran into problems with the DeKalb City Council when he tried to open shop here. He gave up trying to open a DeKalb shop over the summer.

Right now, Murphy has a tattoo parlor in Rochelle.