The Fraternal Order of Eagles and a longtime downtown bar could be shut down and face criminal charges after police recently seized from them machines allegedly used for gambling.
The City Council will discuss Tuesday whether to revoke business licenses belonging to the Eagles and the Pool Hall, effectively forcing their closure."That's news to us," said Mary Garfield, manager of the Eagles Lodge, 200 N. 600 West. Eagles representatives plan to attend Tuesday's meeting.
After receiving reports of gambling at the lodge and the Pool Hall, 15 E. Center, police obtained search warrants to check out the two businesses, said Chief Mike Ferre. Investigators confiscated two poker machines from each building, documents and a combined $2,800, he said.
"The machines, in our opinion, were gambling," Ferre said.
Police have referred the matter to the Utah County attorney's office for review. Charges have not been filed. Both the Pool Hall and Eagles Lodge have retained attorneys.
Garfield warned that people shouldn't have jumped to conclusions about gambling at the Eagles Lodge.
"Right now, we're not guilty of that," she said.
Ironically, several Eagles officers received public service awards this past weekend at Pleasant Grove's community fair.
Whether the council can even consider pulling the two business licenses at this time is subject to some question among city leaders. Mayor Lloyd Ash was upset to find the issue on Tuesday night's agenda.
But Councilman Richard Paulsen, who acknowledges council members will have to be careful about how they discuss the matter, said it should be on the agenda. One of the issues that needs to be aired, he said, is when it is and isn't appropriate to revoke a business license.
"Some people think we shouldn't be doing it, but I think as a council we ought to at least talk about it," he said. City councils commonly approve business license applications in regular council meetings. Paulsen said Pleasant Grove has rarely, if ever, revoked a license.