JONESTOWN —After Mayor Kenny Lester closed down Wesley Williams’ Pool Hall in Jonestown due to the coronavirus, its owners spoke at the city council meeting hoping to get the business reopened.
“We have a lot of businesses that are open while we are on COVID-19,” Lester said. “We ask that all non-essential businesses stay closed in this pandemic.”
Wesley Williams/Pool Hall and Marcell’s Snack Shop are both on Main Street and were forced to close after Gov. Tate Reeves’ stay at home and safer at home orders went into effect.
Lester said he spoke with the owners at Marcell’s Snack Shop and they closed the business, but the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department closed Wesley Williams Pool Hall.
W.B. Williams and Regina Green are the owners of Wesley Williams Pool Hall and attempted to explain they also had a restaurant -- Edna’s Kitchen -- in the same location. They said they were attempting to keep Edna’s Kitchen open.
Williams said Lester had spoken to him, but he thought the mayor would call board members before closing the business.
Williams attempted to distinguish the pool hall from the restaurant.
“That’s a restaurant business,” Lester said. “That’s not a pool hall. That’s not a club. I’ve got a license to sell food.”
Lester said he did not see an Edna’s Kitchen on the business’ privilege license.
“There’s not a bar open in the United States,” Lester said. “The governor has passed a mandate. We cannot bars and nightclubs open.”
Williams said the light and gas bill was under Edna’s Kitchen and he runs more than one business.
Williams acknowledged letting a few customers come in and play the machines at the pool hall, but he said the restaurant closed at 8 p.m.
“They’ve got you written up as Wesley Williams/Pool Hall,” said Alderman Unta Wiley after looking at the privilege license.
“They wrote it wrong,” said Williams in response.
Privilege License
Lester said the privilege license is all he had to go by.
“When they gave you your receipt and that receipt said pool hall, that was the time you should have corrected them,” Lester said.
District 3 representative of the Coahoma County Board of Supervisors Derrell Washington spoke from the audience.
“He’s running multiple businesses,” said Washington, whose district represents Jonestown. “Maybe that one there is just for the pool hall. Maybe he does have another privilege license for a restaurant.”
Williams left city hall and brought back privilege licenses, but none were for Edna’s Kitchen. They were for pool hall and used car businesses.
Williams said he had about five business licenses.
Wiley suggested giving Williams permission to cook and make money if he buys a $20 permit.
“Can he go over and buy a privilege license to cook?” Wiley said.
Lester said Williams could do that, but he would have to come back to the board before reopening.
Williams then asked why Lester had the Sheriff’s Office close his business and not Jonestown police chief Rico Smith.
“Because Rico wasn’t there,” Lester said.
“You are to remain closed until the governor orders me to open up pool halls. This thing says a pool hall.”
Case not closed
Green and Lester began to exchange words as the discussion moved along.
“You’re not shutting down these house businesses,” Green said. “We came for clarity. You’re not being fair.”
Lester said if the council voted to get rid of all the restrictions, then any business could open. However, while it was his decision, he planned to follow the governor’s orders and close non-essential businesses.
“You all make a motion to open everybody back up and we won’t close,” Lester said.
No motion was made.
Green said the restaurant part of the business should open.
“That (privilege license) needs to be corrected,” Green said. “We didn’t know a coronavirus was going to come around.”
Lester did say if Green and Williams got a license for Edna’s Kitchen, they could open and only do curbside service where no one would go in the building.
“It’s up to the board to make these decisions,” said Green as the exchange continued.
“You’re going to stay closed,” replied Lester.
“No, we’re not,” replied Green. “It’s up to the board.”
