Bingo called again

Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 31, 2008

FERRIDAY — Three of the five Ferriday aldermen have called a special meeting to discuss electronic bingo tonight.

The meeting will be 6 p.m. at Ferriday Town Hall.

Signing the call for the special meeting were Aldermen Elijah “Steppers” Banks, Jerome Harris and Gloria Lloyd.

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Alderman Johnny Brown did not sign the call, and the call notes Alderman Somer Lance did not approve it.

The agenda for the meeting includes introduction of an ordinance that would allow electronic bingo operations in Ferriday, to set a date for a public hearing regarding the ordinance and to vote on the ordinance.

Lance said she did not approve the call for the meeting because of feedback she received in her district.

“The majority of the people in my district are very, very opposed to it,” Lance said. “I feel it is gambling, and I don’t want to build business in Ferriday on the back of poor people gambling.”

On July 22, the town had a special meeting to allow public discussion about a proposed bingo hall by Big Bucks Bingo LLC.

Most of those present at the meeting voiced opposition, and one person expressed support for the proposal.

“I guess the aldermen want to revisit the issue,” Mayor Glen McGlothin said. “The last time we visited the issue, the opposition was pretty vehement, but I guess they heard something different than I heard.”

Because of a new law enacted this legislative session, all new bingo operations would have to be in place by Aug. 15, McGlothin said.