The Walled Lake City Council voted to approve a resolution allowing the nonprofit Our Children Hold the Key to apply for charitable gaming at Langan's All Star (poker nights), with a condition that an agreement be drafted and approved by the city attorney limiting funds to benefit students who attend Walled Lake Consolidated Schools.

Derek Bari, a board member and attorney for the charity, told the council the nonprofit was founded in 2014 to combat childhood obesity and educates students and families on nutrition and physical activity. Bari said the organization does not retain fundraising proceeds for administrative gain and that state charitable gaming rules cap the group's events to "4 sessions, consecutively with being 4 days throughout the year" (a maximum of 16 sessions annually), per his briefing.

Council members raised geographic‑distribution concerns: several members wanted to ensure proceeds stayed in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District even though the applicant had discussed surrounding communities. The mayor proposed, and council accepted, language to make the resolution conditional on a signed agreement limiting disbursements to students who attend the Walled Lake Consolidated School District.

City Attorney Dan advised the council that staff could draft a short agreement to record that limitation and recommended passing the resolution subject to that agreement's approval. A motion to approve the resolution conditionally (listed in the packet as resolution 2024-01) passed on a roll call vote with all voting members recorded as "Yes." The roll call listed Ambrose, Fernandez, Locke, Lublin, Osnick, Woods and Ackley as voting in favor.

Bari said the group was "more than happy" to have language drafted that constrained funds to the school district, and council members repeatedly requested that proceeds be available to any student who attends Walled Lake Consolidated Schools regardless of the student's residence.

The council's action authorizes staff and the city attorney to finalize the agreement language and return for any final ministerial steps required by the city's charitable‑gaming procedures.

(Reporter’s note: applicant name and quoted program details are taken from the applicant’s statement to council.)