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Bee County will enforce 2014 game-room ordinance; permits not to be renewed after Dec. 31 for locations in violation
Summary
Community Affairs Director Bobby Jemison reported 17 permitted facilities with amusement games and identified seven that violate the county's 2014 ordinance requiring 1,000-foot separation from schools and churches. The court voted to enforce the order and allow an extension through Dec. 31 so affected businesses may relocate or cease operations.
Bee County Commissioners Court voted Oct. 14 to enforce the county's 2014 game-room ("8-liner") order and not to renew permits after Dec. 31 for establishments found to be within the 1,000-foot exclusion zone from school- or church-owned property.
Bobby Jemison, the county's community affairs director, said the county had 17 permitted establishments that operate amusement games; seven of those were identified as being in violation of the separation requirement. He noted one business had already removed the machines.
Commissioner DeWitt moved adoption of enforcement with a transition period; the motion, seconded and discussed, directed that the county will allow the listed establishments to operate until Dec. 31 but will not renew permits after that date. Commissioners noted the rule had been adopted by the county in 2014 and is publicly available. The court recorded the motion and carried it without exception.
Commissioners and staff discussed lack of county zoning (which limits enforcement over purely residential complaints) and directed citizens with neighborhood impacts to work with the sheriff's office for enforcement of nuisance or trespass issues.
The court did not announce fines or immediate closure notices at the Oct. 14 meeting; the action taken was to enforce the ordinance prospectively and to stop permit renewals on the cited properties.
