BLUEFIELD – A new set of rules would be formulated governing the operations of the video poker gaming establishments in Bluefield is considered by the city’s officials. A new landscape order is being drafted by City Manager Andy Merriman to develop a series of landscaped islands in several parking lots and other public areas across the city.He stated that the proposed video poker ordinance would restrict certain video poker establishments located in the city limits and has been given to the planning commission for review. Regulating video poker facilities would be one of the major goals of the proposed order.
Merriman has also stated that they tend to maintain a distance between each of these establishments keeping it away from schools and churches. With the set up of these establishments comes the tendency for pubs and bars to spring up which may have potential for problems in the city. He said that the order also aims at protecting the profile of separate neighborhoods. Merriman is in the process of drafting the landscaping ordinance and has proposed for the landscaped islands to keep the city looking greener and provide shade to help cool off the summer heat.
He has stated that people need to harmonize the use of such an environment that is welcoming to customers. They are looking forward to setting up bushes, planting strips, grass strips, planters and hanging plants in the ordinance. Although the ordinance is in the early stages of development, Merriman said that he is pulling together information on what would work and where it would work.