Chillicothe Update
Questions still cloud smoking ban issue
March 13,? 2007
CATHERINE STORTZ RIPLEY
Much discussion took place but no decision was made Monday night regarding a proposed smoking ban which city voters will consider in three weeks.
The April 3 ballot question asks voters whether the city council should enact an ordinance to ban smoking in all public places in the city except as provided by the city council. The ballot measure is non-binding, meaning it does not require the council to enact any kind of a smoking ban. Rather, the ballot issue is merely intended to get voters’ opinions about the city being smoke-free.
It was the council’s intent to have a proposed ordinance drafted well in advance of the election so that voters would know what direction the council planned to go in approving an ordinance. If the ballot measure gets majority support, it is anticipated that the council would pass the ordinance, which is still being drafted, as one of their last acts in office before a new session of the council begins.
The council during their regular meeting Monday evening seemed poised to reach a consensus on proposing a 100 percent ban prohibiting smoking in all public places, including businesses, restaurants and bars; however, concerns from the public prompted more discussion and raised additional questions.
In particular, individuals from two private organizations – the Elks and the Eagles – attended Monday night’s meeting to express concerns over a city ordinance that could ban smoking in their facilities. Marvin Holcer represented the Elks and Charlie Peniston represented the Eagles. They said their groups both offer bingo and that most of their bingo players are smokers.
“They’re not just smokers,” Holcer said. “About 75 percent of them are chain smokers.”
He said that the bingo players are dedicated and many play every day of the week somewhere. He also said that because of the bingo players the Elks contribute between $35,00 and $60,000 to community projects.
He said that the bingo players are dedicated and many play every day of the week somewhere. He also said that because of the bingo players the Elks contribute between $35,00 and $60,000 to community projects.
“I don’t know that Chillicothe can gamble on this,” Holcer said, implying that the Elks could be unable to provide these types of funds if a smoking ban is enacted.
Peniston expressed similar concerns, noting that proceeds from the bingo nights allow the Eagles to donate money to local causes. . . .
City starts work on smoking ban
February 27, 2007
By CATHERINE STORTZ RIPLEY, C-T News Editor
By CATHERINE STORTZ RIPLEY, C-T News Editor
Chillicothe voters will go to the polls in five weeks and decide whether to give city council members authority to enact a citywide smoking ban.
The extent of the proposed ban has yet to be finalized, but council members are considering a 100 percent ban which would prohibit smoking in all public places, including businesses, restaurants and bars.
It is intended that the proposal will be drafted and published within the next couple of weeks so that voters will have enough time to become familiar with the issue and offer input to the council before the April 3 election, according to Mayor Todd Rodenberg. It is also intended that if the issue receives a majority vote, the council would enact the ordinance just before the new council is sworn into office.
Several individuals supporting a smoking ban attended Monday night’s council meeting and presented city officials with information about health effects from secondhand smoke as well as information about other cities that have enacted smoking bans.
Joyce Lara, community policy specialist with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, presented the council with data stating that secondhand smoke causes cancer and heart disease in non-smokers, illnesses and diseases in children and puts workers at significant risk.
“Secondhand smoke is something that causes a lot of problems for people who are around it,” she said.
Smoking bans are becoming a national trend, said Jan Schwarz, program director for the American Lung Association, who also attended Monday night’s council meeting.
There already are several states that have statewide smoking bans in workplaces, restaurants and bars. There are seven states with complete bans, including New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Washington and Ohio. An additional 13 states have partial bans. Among them are North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, California and Idaho. The partial bans may allow smoking in one or two of the following categories: workplaces, restaurants and bars.
Missouri, along with all of its adjacent states currently does not have a smoke-free state law. However, several Missouri cities have enacted either 100 percent bans or partial smoke-free laws.
Among cities that have 100 percent smoke-free laws is Independence, the fourth largest city in the state, Schwarz said. Independence’s new law goes into effect on St. Patrick’s Day, this March 17, and prohibits smoking in all businesses, restaurants and bars. Columbia has a near 100 percent smoking ban, exempting only one establishment, Schwartz said. Maryville, which enacted a smoking ban several years ago, exempts only free-standing bars which were in operation at the time the law was enacted.
City to discuss dogs, smoking ban
January 5, 2007
A smoking ban and revisions to the city’s dog and cat ordinance will be among items discussed during the Chillicothe City Council meeting Monday night at City Hall. City officials will also discuss OATS, Inc., and an agreement involving the Alamo building in north Chillicothe.
Consideration of implementing a ban on smoking in public places was first discussed in a regular council meeting last week and city officials considered putting the issue on the April ballot. In order to put the measure on the ballot the council would need to have the ballot language and related ordinance approved to give to the county clerk no later than Tuesday, Jan. 23. Council members also considered passing an ordinance regarding a smoking ban, rather than putting the measure to the vote of the people.
It was not determined last week whether the proposed ban would apply to restaurants only or whether public buildings would be included in the ban. There was some question about what would be considered as public buildings. It was also mentioned that restaurants (specifically, bars) could be exempt from the ban if sales from alcohol exceeded 60 percent of their total sales. . . .
Smoking ban may be put on city’s April ballot
December 26, 2006
Having a cigarette at the end of a meal may not be as simple as it is now with city council members considering placing a smoking ban for restaurants on the April ballot.
Chillicothe City Council members during their last meeting directed City Attorney Scott Washburn to prepare various ballot proposals for their next council meeting which will be Thursday, Dec. 28. No decision is expected during this week’s meeting, according to City Clerk Roze Frampton. However, she said, the last day for the city to submit ballot language to the county clerk for the April election is Jan. 23.
More and more public places are moving toward smoke-free environments. Earlier this year, Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe extended its ban on the use of tobacco products inside the hospital to the entire hospital campus including the parking lots, entrances, and inside all buildings operated for hospital and clinic use. The extension of the tobacco ban coincided with new regulations from the Department of Health and Senior Services curbing the use of tobacco products at Missouri hospitals.
Tougher regulations are emerging across the nation and municipalities throughout the state are considering smoking bans or have already implemented them. . . .
