Monday, August 21, 2023–11:00 a.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
Gaming machines, like the ones you see tucked away in some convenience stores, are legal if there are no cash payouts.
Floyd County is in the process of looking at a local gaming machine ordinance, similar to ones that have been implemented in other counties and municipalities in Georgia.
John Blalock, Public Safety Division Director, gave an update during Thursday’s county public safety committee meeting.
“I have a draft ordinance that is complete,” he said. “However, it comes from about six different municipalities in Georgia that are already doing it, and in some of them, we are going to need some guidance from the board. There are different options as to how it’s enforced, what the penalties are, and these types of things. Some parts of the ordinance are crystal clear as to what you can and cannot do, but there are somewhere different municipalities that are doing it in different ways. I need some guidance from the board as to what you’d prefer before we finalize the proposal.”
Blalock is expected to set up a meeting with commissioners Scotty Hancock and Rhonda Wallace, who both serve on the public safety committee, and County Manager Jamie McCord, to get input.
Any ordinance would also have to be reviewed by the county attorney.