Roseboro mayor, right, talks with the town board about the prospect of businesses having video poker machines in the town. Also pictured is town clerk Drenda Ammons, middle, and town attorney Bill Poole.
This issue was brought up Monday night during the board’s planning session when mayor Roland Hall provided an article from a regional newspaper discussing how North Carolina’s ban on the gambling practice was recently overturned, leaving the state in legal limbo and the municipality weighing all sides of the controversial game.
First, Hall asked guest Sheriff’s Capt. Doyle Grady to speak on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office in regards to what can be done about video poker.
Grady explained, “From what I understand, it is still up in the air.” Grady added that since the issue is currently being decided by the courts, there is no way to enforce the law. But he stressed that his department will keep its eyes open to what happens.
While there aren’t any video poker machines currently being operated in Roseboro, deputy clerk Amanda Beatty said in an interview that town staff was initially made aware of the idea by concerned residents.
In the meeting, mayor pro tem David Alexander stated that he had no problem with video poker machines. “I just don’t want to see them in the downtown.”
Commissioner Arnold Sandy agreed, adding that the town would not benefit from the practice any way.
Board member Anthony Bennett commented that he felt putting video poker machines in the downtown would send the wrong message.
“If we keep the churches out, we got to keep these out as well,” said Bennett, referring to the ban on store front churches that is currently in place.
“We don’t want our downtown to turn into a little Las Vegas,” Bennett added.
Commissioner James McLean then added, “We don’t want to deter people from moving businesses to the downtown.”
That comment was followed by board member Cary Holland suggesting the issue be brought to a vote.
Hall explained to Holland that he felt there was a concensus on the issue and that it should be taken up during the next board meeting rather than during a planning session.
Parking in downtown
With Grady still in attendance, the board also weighed parking in the downtown, which is currently limited to the street parking.
In addition to putting up a parking lot in the district, commissioner McLean suggested limiting the street parking to two hours. However, Alexander reminded him that the town already has two-hour street parking.
Listening, Holland advised that he didn’t want to send the wrong message, noting that “some of the business owners fill in the street parking to give the appearance that the town has more traffic than it really does.”
Grady then expressed that parking was currently not being enforced in the town, since the officers are not familiar with the local ordinance.
“We have to see that ordinance to enforce it,” said Grady.
Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.
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