The Birmingham City Council has been putting off granting class II, or electronic bingo permits to applicants...that is, until now. In an exclusive interview, the attorney who helped get the first permit says it didn't come without a battle in court.
The first and only class II bingo permit was issued in the city of Birmingham on Tuesday.
The permit, allowing electronic bingo, belongs to House of Joshua Christian Center - a charity that's setting up bingo at the old Greater Birmingham Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Roebuck.
In an exclusive interview with CBS 42 on Tuesday night, Kim Davidson, attorney for House of Joshua says they are excited about finally getting the permit.
"My clients are absolutely thrilled. They are looking forward to partnering with the city and having bingo."
After they were delayed from getting a permit by the Council twice, Davidson says they decided to take legal action, filing a motion against the city and cited the time and expenses her client had already incurred.
"Mortgage, deed, or lease...they had to pay a $2,500 application fee which the city took and cashed...articles of incorporation. It was a pretty hefty package they had to give them."
City Councilman Steven Hoyt says he has his reasons why he thinks the Council should take its time in issuing bingo permits.
"I think one was proposed to come to Ensley, and that was a concern of mine because in 500 feet there's a school," says Hoyt.
Councilman Joel Montgomery, who has supported the city's bingo ordinance all along, disagrees.
"What I'm telling you is they should have gotten these permits to begin with and not been delayed," says Montgomery.
House of Joshua claimed a victory Monday afternoon in an order by Judge William Noble who says city "is enjoined from further delaying issuance of the plaintiff's class II permit as provided by ordinance number 09-78."
As a result, the bingo permit was issued to House of Joshua late Tuesday afternoon.
"My clients were anxiously awaiting on the permits, and they will finish renovations of the building and get machines in here in the next couple of weeks."
Davidson says House of Joshua Christian Center is a faith based program from Mobile which is planning on expanding its faith based programs in Birmingham.
The first and only class II bingo permit was issued in the city of Birmingham on Tuesday.
The permit, allowing electronic bingo, belongs to House of Joshua Christian Center - a charity that's setting up bingo at the old Greater Birmingham Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Roebuck.
In an exclusive interview with CBS 42 on Tuesday night, Kim Davidson, attorney for House of Joshua says they are excited about finally getting the permit.
"My clients are absolutely thrilled. They are looking forward to partnering with the city and having bingo."
After they were delayed from getting a permit by the Council twice, Davidson says they decided to take legal action, filing a motion against the city and cited the time and expenses her client had already incurred.
"Mortgage, deed, or lease...they had to pay a $2,500 application fee which the city took and cashed...articles of incorporation. It was a pretty hefty package they had to give them."
City Councilman Steven Hoyt says he has his reasons why he thinks the Council should take its time in issuing bingo permits.
"I think one was proposed to come to Ensley, and that was a concern of mine because in 500 feet there's a school," says Hoyt.
Councilman Joel Montgomery, who has supported the city's bingo ordinance all along, disagrees.
"What I'm telling you is they should have gotten these permits to begin with and not been delayed," says Montgomery.
House of Joshua claimed a victory Monday afternoon in an order by Judge William Noble who says city "is enjoined from further delaying issuance of the plaintiff's class II permit as provided by ordinance number 09-78."
As a result, the bingo permit was issued to House of Joshua late Tuesday afternoon.
"My clients were anxiously awaiting on the permits, and they will finish renovations of the building and get machines in here in the next couple of weeks."
Davidson says House of Joshua Christian Center is a faith based program from Mobile which is planning on expanding its faith based programs in Birmingham.
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