Staff Reports
County Commissioners opted to not modify the County’s Game Room Regulations to allow cash payouts following requests from the William’s family during Monday’s regular meeting.
The game room in question is the only one operating in the County and is located adjacent to Williams Collision, 1989 US Hwy 59 S.
There is an additional facility located at FM 2208 and FM 3001, but it has fewer than six machines and therefore is not regulated by the guidelines.
Williams requested to be allowed to provide cash payouts instead of gift cards.
They claim surrounding counties, with similar machines, are allowed to payout cash under the same guidelines.
They also claim the county’s position is that with issuing gift cards the risk of crime, and therefore crime rate, is lower.
The machines operating at Williams’ game room are all internet based and not coin or token operated.
Users are required to add money to their account at the front desk, and then login to the system to play.
Redemption of winnings, if any, are currently being returned via Walmart Gift Cards in $25 increments.
The machines are also utilizing a system considered an “Internet Sweepstakes” to play and chance winning so no determination of winning or losing is made onsite.
However, each computer in the facility is required to have a Coin-Operated Machine Permit, to the tune of $15 per machine per year.
Commissioners allowed the Williams family to speak, but limited them to the three-minutes available in public comment, before the discussion of the agenda item.
No questions were asked of the Williams’s during the Commissioners deliberations.
In discussions after the meeting with the Jimplecute, the Williams’ contend they were not asking for a change to the game room regulations but to have defined, by the Court, if they could return to providing cash pay-outs instead of gift cards.
They said in the years prior to the regulations going into effect, Williams’ donated in excess of $21,000 back into the community via various non-profit organizations each year.
Since the regulations, as business has been reduced, they have donated around $7,000 per year.
Williams further claim the county is losing revenue as the gift cards are for businesses not located inside the county, and other state regulations prohibit them from providing Visa/MasterCard backed gift cards which are considered having monetary value and are therefore illegal rewards.
All other requirements set out by the Court have been complied with as Williams has an active County Game Room Permit.
Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur told Commissioners that the County Attorney recommended the Court not make any changes the Game Room regulations.
Commissioner Treadwell moved to not make any changes, and Commissioner Jacob Pattison seconded. Commissioners Ralph Meisenheimer and J.R. Ashley voted against the motion, wanting to make changes.
LaFleur broke the tie by approving the motion to not make any changes.
Commissioners also approved the Law Enforcement Liability and Public Officials Liability insurance through the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool’s program. Pct 4 Commissioner Charlie Treadwell voted for the renewals despite having reservations.
“That’s one of those things we don’t like voting on because we don’t know how much it’s going to be,” said Treadwell. “I guess I’m the only person who works on this court that worked for a bunch of farmers. And if you work for a farmer, you don’t ever get a job unless you know how much it’s going to cost.”
Treadwell motioned to approve the renewals at the same rate as last year and Commissioners approved it 4-0. TAC supplies insurance contracts for counties, but until approved, and the new number of participants in the pool is determined, rates are unknown.
County Constables will finally be getting new vehicles after Commissioners approved the purchase of two 2021 Chevrolet Colorado pickup trucks, at approximately $21,000 each, if they were still available.
Commissioners had tabled the proposal made by Treadwell at the February 14 meeting to allow Marion County Sheriff David Capps to meet with Enterprise Rent-A-Car on their fleet vehicle program and report his findings at this meeting. Capps was out of town this week and had not provided an update to Commissioners as of the meeting.
Previously Pct 1 Constable Ed Baird had proposed new Ford F150 Super Cab vehicles at $35-39,000 each. Pct 2 Constable Jeff Greer had obtained approval last fall from Commissioners to purchase used vehicles from the Texarkana Police Department.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Ralph Meisenheimer received approval to purchase a dump truck with a maximum cost of $40,000. Meisenheimer said he currently had two, older gasoline powered dump trucks which were costing him more in maintenance and fuel than was reasonable. He said he had located a diesel replacement for $39,000 but upon arriving it had already been sold. He is currently still looking for a replacement and the approval will allow him to purchase one immediately if located.
In other business Commissioners
• approved enrollment and participation in the State’s Cybersecurity Training.
• approved final Line Item transfers for the 2021 Fiscal Year.
• approved Interlocal Cooperation Contract (Failure to Appear Program) with DPS for the Justices of the Peace.
• approved issuing RFPs for administrative and plan writing services for the CDBG-MIT Local Hazard Mitigation Plans Program.
• approved naming Commissioners and LaFleur as the selection committee for the CDBG-MIT LHMPP.
• approved renewing participation in the Affordable Care Act reporting and Tracking Services for 2022.
• approved East Texas Housing Financing Corporation General Certificate of Marion County. The certificate will have to be re-issued as County representation members have changed. The certificate is for the Tyler, Texas, Liberty Arms Apartment Renovation project.
• approved settlement offers related to the Texas opioid lawsuits following an executive session to discuss the matter.