Planning board members tonight recommended sending proposed regulations on Internet cafes to city council for consideration.

Carl Garner voted against the recommendation because he believed it was unfair to allow the establishments to close at midnight while bingo halls can stay open until 2 a.m.

“How can you penalize one business?” he asked. “You can’t tame this animal so you close at 12.”

No one from the public spoke for or against the proposals at a public hearing on the matter.

Mayor Emery Doughtie did ask whether the seven Internet cafes operating in Roanoke Rapids would be under a grandfather clause.

“It’s a gray area because it’s such a new use,” Planning and Development Director Amanda Jarratt said. “There are localities retroactively enforcing. We wouldn’t make them close because their too close (to schools and churches).”

That wouldn’t mean the city wouldn’t regulate hours of operation and the number of machines for existing businesses, she said, which is something city council would have to decide.

Doughtie also asked about a moratorium on any new businesses coming coming to town. “My thought would be until we get a handle on them we don’t want to have so many in town.”

Jarratt said there are ways to enact moratoriums in cities but the matter was not discussed further.

Council will consider making the establishments a conditional use in the B-4 and I-1 districts.

Jarratt presented two minor changes to council, one putting language in the proposal for hours of operation — 8 a.m. to midnight — making it clear all games cease at midnight. The other change clarifies there shall be no more than 20 machines in a business including video poker machines.

Other proposed regulations remained unchanged:

• 500 feet from any residence or residential zoning district.

• 1,000 feet from any church, religious institution, day care center, public or private schools, public park or playground, public library, cemetery, video arcade or theater which shows G or PG movies regularly.

• 1,000 feet away from any existing electronic gaming operation, tattoo and body piercing establishment or adult and sexually oriented business.

• The machines or terminals must not be prohibited by state or federal law and must have applicable licenses and permits.

• No alcoholic beverages may be served or consumed on the premises.

The proposal also addresses parking with a requirement of 1.5 parking spaces for every two electronic gaming machines plus one space for each employee on shift of greatest employment.

There are currently seven establishments in the city. They are located at the following:

• 1114 Julian R. Allsbrook Highway

• 1740 Julian R. Allsbrook Highway

• 1308 East Tenth Street

• 112 East Tenth Street

• 1052 East Tenth Street

• 291 Premier Boulevard

• Second floor of Jackpot Bingo

Two people were arrested on drug counts and three others charged on unrelated counts following a drug bust in the 100 block of Hamilton Street today.

“Word’s y’all slingin’ dope like crazy,” one man taken into custody on an unrelated warrant said to a group of people handcuffed on the porch of 135 Hamilton Street.

Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton, carrying a G-man like Tommy gun, said the arrests resulted from a lengthy investigation including officer observations and citizen complaints. “It’s been a lot of activity around both these houses.”

One man arrested told officers he was trying to sleep before the 10 a.m. bust. “Y’all weren’t yesterday,” the officer replied.

Hinton said officers served two search warrants, one at 134 Hamilton and another at 135 Hamilton.

Those charged on drug counts were:

• Maurice Sneed, 22 — possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was jailed on $15,000 bond.

• Marcus Blount, 18, faces the same charges as Sneed along with a count of felony possession of marijuana.

Charged on unrelated counts were:

• Terrence Anderson, 19 — disorderly conduct. He was jailed on $750 bond.

• Matthew Turner, 20 — simple assault and second degree trespassing. He was released on $1,000 bond.

• Jimmy Lee Harrison — simple assault. He was released on a $500 bond.

Two men were arrested Wednesday for carrying a concealed weapon.

Lieutenant Chuck of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said the narcotics unit was patrolling the Wallace Fork Road area when he stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. During the search a gun was found and Bryant Antonio Harrison, 22, of Roanoke Rapids, and Larry Nathaniel Jenkins Jr., 22, of Weldon were charged for carrying a concealed gun. Jenkins was also cited for not wearing his seat belt.

Harrison’s bond was $500 and Jenkins’ bond was $1,500. Their court date is May 5.

Roanoke Rapids police are booking several people following a drug bust this morning in the 100 block of Hamilton Street.

“Word’s y’all slingin’ dope like crazy,” one man taken into custody on an unrelated warrant said to a group of people handcuffed on the porch of 135 Hamilton Street.

Chief Jeff Hinton, carrying a G-man like Tommy gun, said the arrests resulted from a lengthy investigation including officer observations and citizen complaints. “It’s been a lot of activity around both these houses.”

One man arrested told officers he was trying to sleep before the 10 a.m. bust. “Y’all weren’t yesterday,” the officer replied.

Several of those handcuffed were eventually let go although it wasn’t immediately clear why.

Officers searched both houses and then carried several men off for booking. Their names or charges were not immediately available.

One thing council will immediately begin to look at is exploring new health insurance for its employees.

The city’s premium for the past fiscal year with Blue Cross and Blue Shield was more than $1 million, Human Resources Manager Kathy Kearney told council during its retreat today.

Finance Director MeLinda Hite said that figure is expected to be same at the end of this fiscal year.

Its premium in 2006 with a different provider was $440,000 with a 80-20 split. The current plan is a 70-30 split.

“We need to take a look at that,” Council member Greg Lawson said. “There has to be a competitive process.”

Said Kearney: “We need to look at it for our employees and taxpayers.”

City Manager Paul Sabiston said the city could see savings of a couple $100,000 a year by going elsewhere.

“We need to get rolling,” Lawson said.