Wildwood is getting tougher on bingo operators.
City commissioners Monday night approved several changes in the bingo ordinance.
“This puts a little more teeth in our ordinance,” said Mayor Ed Wolf.
The changes make it easier to enforce some provisions of the law, according to assistant city manager Jason McHugh.
Bingo operators now are required to sign an affidavit that they are in compliance with state bingo standards, which limit game sponsorship to certain organizations.
Tinted windows or other glass obstructions that prevent police officers from looking inside a bingo game are prohibited.
Violators of the ordinance now are subject to a $5,000 fine for each offense.
In other action, the commission approved several small annexations for future development. They include a 5.45-acre parcel on the northwest side of Powell Road and County Road 44A known as the Carlos Bailey property; the 1.39-acre Murphy Oil station property at county roads 466 and 105 as well as an adjacent 1.78-acre parcel next to the railroad right-of-way, which is part of the Oxford Commons project; and a 2.44-acre parcel north of State Road 44 about a half mile east of U.S. 301 as part of the Freedom Plaza project.
Commissioners also voted to annex 4.51 acres at the southeast corner of U.S. 301 and Pepper Tree Lane so city police officers can enforce traffic laws at the intersection in an effort to reduce accidents. The parcel is owned by the Florida Department of Transportation and used for water retention.
They also voted to drop sewerage rates by 1.6 percent due to lower fuel costs. The average residential cost for a single cart will decrease from $17.24 to $16.96. Rates are reviewed twice a year.
