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North Platte council tables repeal of games-of-skill ordinance; city attorney to revise language
Summary
The North Platte City Council tabled action on Ordinance 4190, which would repeal a 2023 ordinance on games of skill, after discussion about state preemption of local taxes and the council's desire to retain local hours‑of‑operation and police access provisions.
The North Platte City Council on Monday tabled action on Ordinance 4190, a proposal to repeal Ordinance 4137 governing "games of skill" and mechanical amusement devices, after hearing from the city attorney and several councilmembers about state law changes and remaining local concerns.
City Attorney Bill Trishinski told the council that a recently passed state legislative bill and related state statutes prohibit political subdivisions from collecting taxes on mechanical amusement devices. He said repealing Ordinance 4137 in full would remove provisions the council had added in 2023, including hours of operation and a police right of entry, as well as the local tax. Trishinski said he would prefer to revise the draft ordinance to isolate the tax repeal and to update definitions changed by the legislature.
Councilmember Ty Lucas and others said they wanted to preserve the local limits on hours of operation and the police right of entry that had been included in the 2023 ordinance. Councilmember Volz moved to table the item and ask the city attorney to prepare a narrower draft; Councilmember Lucas seconded the motion. The mayor called the question, and the council voted to table the ordinance to the next meeting.
The council asked that anyone with input on the revised ordinance contact the city attorney or the mayor before the next meeting. No final vote on repeal was taken; the matter remains pending.
