The Ashe County Commissioners held a public hearing on a proposed moratorium pertaining to electronic gaming operations during their meeting Monday afternoon. County Planning Director, Zach Edwardson, presented a memo to the Commissioners informing them that his department had located five existing machines in the jurisdiction of Ashe County. In the memo he also informed them that his department will be publishing an advertisement in the paper for those operating the machines to come to the planning office with receipts showing the pre-existence of their machines prior to the establishment of Chapter 165 of the County Code of Ordinances.
The only person to speak during the public hearing was Mr. Edwardson at which time he officially requested that the Commissioners pass a nine month moratorium on the gaming devices. After the public hearing the Commissioners passed the moratorium. When asked, following the meeting, about the extent of authority the Commissioners have over sweepstakes machines Commission Chair, Judy Poe, explained that they cannot ban them but can develop ordinances regulating them.