Hearing to be held in district court for business suing the City

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

A injunction hearing is set for Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Coryell County 440th District Court for a lawsuit by Maverick Music, LLC against the City of Copperas Cove. 

Maverick Music had operated out of 414 E. Avenue D, and offered music downloads at the establishment. 

The establishment closed in May 2019, after the council voted in February 2019 to amend the city’s occupational license ordinance, with changes intended to focus on illegal gaming establishments that had sprung up in the city during the 2016-2017 time period.

The February ordinance amendment also enacted fees for certain amusement and game room permits, to include an amusement permit fee of $150 with an amusement deposit of $300; a game room license of $350, as well as a coin-operated machine occupation tax of $15 and a coin-operated machine sealing release fee of $5.

Maverick Music closed in May due to not having a permit and has not reopened. 

Back in April 2017, Sgt. Steve O’Neal with the Copperas Cove Police Department spoke about a problem with illegal gaming in town, and named six at that time to include Gold Rush; KG’s Amusement Center;  the Parlor at Five Hills; Cyber Café Charity Sweepstakes, Surf N Sip Internet Café, Veteran Charity Sweepstakes and Shamrock Sweepstakes, as well as Lucky’s Cove. 

O’Neal explained the types of problems that these type of establishments can bring with them, such as crime or attracting gambling addicts, with an increase in aggravated robberies, thefts, burglaries, property damage, narcotics as well as other things not reported. The Gold Rush internet cafe, formerly on S. 2nd St, had two incidents of burglary and theft in March 2017, with over $7,000 stolen.

All of the formerly mentioned businesses had been shut down and issued a letter requesting them to cease and desist operations. Maverick Music was not open at that time.

In February 2019, the amended city council ordinance defined what constitutes “amusement redemption machines”, what arcade games are and what a “game room” is under the ordinance. The ordinance was approved with Section 12-81 removed which includes references to shows and entertainment while keeping the gaming part of the ordinance. 

The manager at the establishment, spoke with the Leader-Press last week, but could not divulge information about the lawsuit. However, during a summertime conversation with the manager, he stated that they were working to try to reopen as soon as they possibly could.