GARY | The City Council has tabled an ordinance designed to strip Majestic Star Casino owner Don Barden of one of his two gambling licenses.

In his opening comments, Councilman at Large Roy Pratt explained why he supported tabling the ordinance, which urges the council to scrutinize all riverboat licensing and transactions and to take any actions necessary to prevent the disenfranchisement of the city.

"If he wants to leave its bye, bye. Go and pack your bags," said Pratt, who went on to say that it was time for the city to begin talking to other casino operators who would be interested in operating in the city and possibly filling a void left by Barden.

The ordinance was unanimously tabled.

In other business, the council adopted an amendment of an ordinance that would establish a nonreverting ambulance account for the Gary Fire Department. A budget crunching measure, the new ordinance takes the city's EMT revenues and puts them in a fund that can be used to purchase equipment and repairs for the Fire Department and EMTs at the discretion of the Gary Fire Department chief, who is currently Jeff Ward.

Other high-profile legislation tabled in the meeting were an ordinance which would prohibit the transportation of certain hazardous materials through the city; an ordinance which would establish an ethics policy for representatives of the city, and an ordinance which would make it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving in the city.