Poker Room

They call him "Easy" according to his car dealership commercials, but that didn't fit earlier this week.

Ronnie Robinson didn't need his brother-in-law Ricky's help to bite a couple of butts at the County Commission's Policy and Rules Committee meeting Monday. After hearing Code Enforcement Director Bill Bodenweber question the patriotism of car dealers during a discussion about the county's sign ordinance, Robinson got hot.

He questioned Bodenweber's professionalism and accused him of harrassing certain businesses. That bite must have felt good, because then he took a chunk out of County Commissioner Doug Conkey.

That's what the Orange Park Town Council did Tuesday night.  They bet on all the new bettors who'll coming to the soon-to-be poker rooms at the Orange Park Kennel Club.

It was a close vote, 3-2.  Councilman Travis Cummings cast the deciding vote, despite the overwhelming majority of OP citizens who were there to speak against the addition to the Kennel Club.  It's true, approximately 40 or so people spoke in favor of the poker rooms, but most weren't residents of Orange Park.

That raises a question that often puzzles me when elected officials cast their votes.  Just who were the elected representatives representing?

Somewhere in the many blogs regarding the Poker Room, one person said they thought Mr. Thrasher was responsible for change in law to require only municipal approval (CH-849.086(16) FS).  Another person said it was someone in South Florida.  So, to set the record straight, here's what happened:

Chapter 849.086 titled "Cardrooms Authorized" was changed by Senate Bill 752 (which resulted from three committee substitutes), Senate Bill 134 (identical CS/H0223) and original bills by Senators Bullard and Geller.  The Senate and House passed these two bills on April 27th & 30th and both were allowed to become law on 6-13-07 without Gov. Crist signature.

I went to the town meeting the other night to hear what would be said pro and con about the idea of a poker room at the Orange park Kennel Club. There was a time for people to talk (3 min) on pros and cons. I was amazed at the mis information of most people that are against it. i would have to believe that most people have never been into the Poker room that is in St Johns on racetrack road. (owned by the people who own Orange park Kennel club.

It is a very nice warm bright room, staff is very welcoming and it provides recreation for young and old. A far cry from what people seem to think that it is. People got up and spoke of drugs , rape and murder being associated with a poker room. Turning our town into a las vegas. I wonder if they have ever been to las vegas?

Just so everybody knows exactly what we're talking about, the so called "Poker Room"  is "CARDROOMS" authorized by the Florida Legislature under TITLE XLVI CH-849 Florida Statutes.  Chaper 849 Florida Statutes is titled "GAMBLING"!

Section 849.086(16) Florida Statutes required county commission approval. 

In 1998 when this was brought before the BCC, they first wanted the OP Town Council to vote on it since it would be physically located in their municipality.  There was advance notice and plenty of opposition and was defeated.

In 2007, it was taken up by the OP Town Council with no advance notice to the public.  Had the citizens known, you would have had an overflow crowd and plenty of opposition.  Just what they didn't want.