FERRIDAY — Video bingo in Ferriday has already been passed and vetoed, and with the next Ferriday aldermen meeting set for Dec. 14, it appears the issue has nine lives.

Alderman Elijah “Stepper” Banks, who originally brought bingo before the board for the vote, said he plans on having a vote to override the mayor’s veto.

“Ferriday needs to start growing,” he said. “I think it is a positive thing for Ferriday to bring (video bingo) here.”

To override the mayor’s veto, Banks and the other aldermen would need two-thirds—four of five alderman–to vote in support of the veto.

If an alderman decides to abstain from voting, it is still uncertain if the aldermen will need two thirds of the non-abstaining aldermen, or all five of them.

If the override passes, the issue cannot be vetoed again, if it fails, an override cannot be voted on again.

Banks said he wants to bring the issue back up for a vote because it can bring a lot of positives to Ferriday.

“It can bring other people and businesses into Ferriday,” he said. “People that come here to play will also have to eat and get gas. It brings in money from many different places.”

Banks said the proposed resolution would allow for a single bingo hall to be in the town.

“We have a company from Monroe called Big Buck Gaming looking at starting the bingo,” he said. “This would be his third location.”

Big Buck Gaming owner Rusty Durham said he had no comment on the issue until after the vote on Dec. 14.

The money made from the bingo hall would be split with 45 percent going toward charity, 45 percent going to Big Buck Gaming or the company that opens the hall and 10 percent going to the Town of Ferriday, Banks said.

“The funds that are going to be collected are going to be used for recreation in Ferriday,” he said. “We can take the money and fix the swimming pool, or even build a recreation facility.”

Ferriday resident the Rev. Justin Conner said more recreation in Ferriday could really help out the town.

“I can’t see anybody going against recreation,” he said. “Our kids can have more things to do, Ferriday can become a place of leisure.”

Conner said with the Isle of Capri being so close by, Ferriday should also cash in on adults participating in gaming.

“If people want to spend their money they are going to spend it anyway,” he said. “We are just trying to give them a medium to go through.”

Banks said the only thing the Town of Ferriday would have to do to make a bingo hall a reality is approve an occupational license for the new business.

“The state regulates all of the charity aspects of the bingo,” he said. “The owners of the bingo hall would have to apply for everything with the state.”

Banks said he has talked with bingo halls in Winnsboro and Pineville, and they are doing well.

“We want people to stay in Ferriday and not move out,” he said. “We are just trying to entice people to move to Ferriday.”

Ferriday Mayor Glen McGlothlin said he was still against the bingo issue.

“I am as much against it today as I have ever been,” he said. “If they want to override it, they have the right, and they can go through the process.”

McGlothin said he has also spoken with towns that have bingo.

“They are not rolling in the wealth,” he said. “Bingo is not a quick fix that is going to save the town, that 10 percent for Ferriday is not going to be as much as you think.”

Taking money out of the economy and giving it toward gambling is not a good way to make money, McGlothin said.

“I just think the situation of making money off of gambling is not a good one for Ferriday,” he said.

McGlothin also said residents need to focus on the new businesses the town has seen during the past year, and work on getting more of those.

“When you get a business with two or three jobs instead of a factory, you are still getting jobs,” he said.

McGlothin said he hopes the vote in December will put an end to this issue.

“I hate to sit here and have a contest over this, but (the aldermen) have their thoughts and I have mine,” he said.