Hearing, Vote on Smoking Ban Coming Up
By Jeffrey Pieters, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
Jan. 3–A proposed workplace smoking ban in Olmsted County could be adopted before month’s end and on the books by April.
County commissioners heard an update Tuesday about how the authors of the ordinance, in the Public Health Services Department, have been holding public forums and consulting with groups of affected business owners.
One more public forum is planned for this week before the county board has a public hearing and a likely vote on the measure on Jan. 23. The ordinance calls for an effective date starting April 1.
The Legislature is expected to consider a statewide smoking ban this year.
The Olmsted County ordinance builds on the county smoke-free restaurants ordinance adopted in 2001. It would add other indoor workplaces and public places to the list of sites expected to be smoke-free, including bars, bowling alleys, pool halls, parks and stores. It would make public conveyances — taxis, limousines and shuttle buses — smoke-free as well.
Business proprietors would have to enforce the smoking ban and would be subject to criminal charges — a petty misdemeanor for a first offense and misdemeanor charges thereafter — for failing.
Violators also could be subject to losing operating licenses — such as a food or liquor license — and could, after repeat offenses, wind up in court facing civil charges on top of any others.
The ordinance is justified, county officials say, by the wealth of data showing the harmful effects of smoking. Even nonsmokers face significant health risks from second-hand smoke.
Health officials have received letters of support for the ordinance from local and state officials, including Dr. Glenn Forbes, Mayo Clinic’s CEO; Dr. G. Richard Geier, president of the Minnesota Medical Association and an Olmsted Medical Center doctor; and Mary Brainerd, HealthPartners’ president and CEO.
County board meetings in recent months have been battlegrounds, with people on rival sides of the smoking issue making unsolicited comments to the board. Tuesday’s meeting featured comments from four people — two in favor of the ordinance and two against.
Opponents say that banning smoking is an infringement of smokers’ liberties and that a ban threatens to hurt some businesses, especially bars.
Coming up
A community forum on Olmsted County’s Smokefree Workplace ordinance will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the county’s Public Health Services building, 2100 Campus Drive S.E., Rochester. Reservations are encouraged to ensure enough seating. Call 285-8370.
The Olmsted County Board expects to vote on the ordinance after a public hearing on Jan. 23. The hearing begins at 7 p.m. in the grand ballroom at Mayo Civic Center.
—–
Copyright (c) 2007, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.