County prepares to issue first bingo permit

It is a historic moment being formalized on Monday by Houston County commissioners, as they are expected to approve the county’s first Class C Bingo permit.

The electronic charitable bingo permit is being issued to the Houston Economic Development Association, for the Country Crossing project.

Issuing the permit with conditions that must be met prior to bingo being operational is one of the first final steps in a development agreement made in February between the county and Resort Development Group II, LLC.

“We have run background checks and everything has panned out,” said Commission Chairman Mark Culver. “We are waiting on one more report. Everything has been cleared.”

The development agreement requires the county to issue the permit prior to the start of construction, which is a few weeks away. Dirt work is ongoing on the 375-acre site.

Culver said investors want the permit issued as a guarantee the project can be operational when the time comes, and to remove any other legal glitch.

“The commission has pretty much agreed to do this,” Culver said. “This is a permit with preconditions. They cannot begin operating a bingo facility on Monday. The agreement is, seven out of 10 venues must be complete, they must have liability insurance in place, and they must have a ($1,000) stamp on every machine.”

The agreement also requires that a branded franchise hotel be constructed or substantially completed prior to bingo being played.

The Houston Development Association must see that all preconditions on Ronnie Gilley’s project are met. The sheriff is assigned the task of ensuring that prior to operation.

“They must give a 14-day notice prior to a commission meeting,” Culver said. “The sheriff is the person charged with enforcing the rules and regulations.”

The first 10 venues include a midway, fairgrounds, RV parking, a hotel, a bingo center and five themed venues tied to country music stars George Jones, Lorrie Morgan, Darryl Worley, Tracy Lawrence and John Anderson.