By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Kimberly Town Council members have a big decision to make.

They have been putting it off partly to see what a judge would decide regarding Walker County. On Monday, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Robert S. Vance ruled that bingo machines in Walker County were illegal and that bingo halls in that county must close immediately.

That was enough for Kimberly Town Councilman Lowell Holland.

“It’s pretty much a non-issue now,” said Holland Monday afternoon. “I can’t imagine us going back and allowing it.”

Councilwoman Donna Cude said the judgment “reinforces my view that electronic bingo is not constitutional. The constitutional amendment allowing charity bingo was never meant to cover electronic so-called bingo.”

Councilman Bob Ellerbrock said it remains to be seen what the Kimberly council will decide.

“As a group, this [judgment] is what we were waiting on,” Ellerbrock said, adding that it does not necessarily dictate what Kimberly will decide.

“When we make a decision, we have to have all the facts in front of us,” he said.

One of the biggest reasons that Kimberly would consider allowing bingo is to provide some much-needed income to the town. The council has said it must consider every option and do what is best for Kimberly.

On Sept. 8, Scott Rogers of Community Network Association, Inc., requested a business license to open a bingo hall in Kimberly. The council has tabled the matter since then.

A large crowd, including local business owners, spoke in favor of bingo in Kimberly during a special council meeting on Sept. 15.

But on Oct. 13, Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon K. Falls attended a Kimberly council meeting and strongly recommended that the town not allow bingo halls to open. Area pastors also stood to oppose bingo in Kimberly.

“Having a bingo parlor in Kimberly is not consistent with our growing family-friendly community,” said Cude. “I am opposed to electronic so-called bingo.”

Holland and Cude estimate that 80 to 90-percent of Kimberly residents are opposed to bingo halls in their town.

“I’m going to do whatever the town wants me to do, and the town doesn’t want it,” Holland said. “I wasn’t going to vote for it anyway.”

Mayor Craig Harris and other council members did not return calls by press deadline.

The next Kimberly Town Council meeting is Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m., at Kimberly Town Hall.