Jefferson County deputies will provide security during a community meeting this evening after one county commissioner said she’s received anonymous threats.

Commissioner Sheila Tyson said some people complaining about a bingo hall allegedly operating illegally in western Jefferson County are taking their anger out on her with social media posts and threatening phone calls.

Tyson told AL.com that she is concerned about anonymous calls from blocked numbers to her cellphone in advance of a planned town hall this evening. The meeting is 5 p.m. at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 500 Carter Ave. Bessemer.

Tyson said recent incidents of politically-motivated violence show that veiled threats can no longer be dismissed.

“Some things you just don’t say to people, and it needs to be addressed,” she said.

County commissioners in September unanimously approved an amended ordinance that allows them to exclude granting business licenses to any illegal business.

Nothing specifically mentions bingo, but the provision gives the county authority to deny licenses to electronic bingo halls in unincorporated Jefferson County. The operations remain a point of contention and have been declared illegal by state officials.

The county’s actions only apply to portions of unincorporated portions of the county. Cities within the county still have authority to regulate and license bingo.

Tyson said callers are livid that some bingo halls continue to operate in the Eastern Valley area, despite the county’s vote to rescind business licenses for bingo operators in unincorporated Jefferson County. Their ire is misdirected, she said.

Tyson will hold a community meeting this evening where she plans to provide an update on paving and other action. However, she said the recent backlash over bingo, the insults, most importantly, threats to her, raises her concern. Tyson said the calls are beyond political complaints.

“I don’t get one vote off of Eastern Valley. That’s not important to me. What is important to me is you’re going to spit in my face and beat me up? And you’re going to come to where I’m having a town hall meeting and do this to me?”

The Eastern Valley community is at the edge of districts of both Tyson and Commission President Jimmie Stephens, Tyson said.

A longtime politician and community activist, Tyson said she’s less concerned about insults but is alarmed by physical threats.

Tyson said her request to the county and law enforcement is simple:

“Handle it like they are supposed to handle if somebody threatens a public official,” she said.

She called Sheriff Mark Pettway to report the threats.

“We will be there this afternoon to make sure nothing happens,” Pettway told AL.com. “We are there to protect her and make sure she’s safe from hurt, harm or danger.”

Pettway said his officers will provide security for this evening’s meeting. He will also be on hand to hear resident concerns regarding bingo or any other issue.

“We’ll find out more detail about what’s going on,” he said.