FERRIDAY — After all the calls were made and all of the chips played, Ferriday will not become home to a charitable bingo hall.

The town council had two previous public hearings about the matter, and Mayor Gene Allen said Tuesday it was time to bring the ordinance to a vote.

With little fanfare from the audience and no discussion, the council voted unanimously to deny the bingo ordinance proposed by Tallulah businessmen.

Councilwoman Robin Charpentier made the motion to deny the ordinance, and councilman Johnnie Brown seconded it.

“I’m thrilled it was voted down,” said Randy Williams, pastor of Hill Memorial Baptist Church in Ferriday. “I think they did the right thing.”

Darryl Ellerbee and Edwin Moberly approached the council in February about bringing the bingo hall into the town. The businessmen proposed the idea, saying Ferriday was an ideal location because the town lacks many entertainment options.

The council also discussed the next move to take in remobilizing the stalled community center project.

“This board is not the reason construction has stopped,” Allen said.

Town attorney Derrick Carson said an individual who had been working for the town had been actively working against the project, but he could not tell the council anything more.

The project was delayed in late November because of structural issues with the roof of the building to be renovated.

It was also stalled because of delayed payments to the architect and contractors. The town has since paid back fees to architect Chris Williams, who said late last month that he is back on track.

“The Town of Ferriday was never supposed to be the funding agency,” Allen said.

USDA and HUD grants are financing the project.

The contractor, Arkel Constructors, Inc., is willing to go back to work if the town pays $22,000. HUD monies will then reimburse the town, Carson said.

Williams plans to send a structural engineer to survey the condition of the roof, Carson said.

“If the town pays out this money and the structural report on the building comes back bad, will HUD still reimburse the town?” said Larry Wagoner, a sub-contractor on the project.

HUD will be obligated to pay the funds, Allen said.

The council voted to pay the $22,000 invoice on the grounds that the motion could be rescinded if the structural report came back too far beyond budget.

“If nothing can be done, this project is over,” Carson said.

In other news:

4The council voted to advertise for a public hearing for comments about the town budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

4The council went into executive session to discuss recent changes in Department of Environmental Quality policy the town needs to effect.

4The council commended the town waterworks department for improvement in town water over the last two years.

“They have the waterworks plant on their hearts,” Allen said.