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Smokers Beware: Ban Hits Agenda: PROPOSAL:Smoking in Bars and Restaurants Would Be Prohibited Countywide.

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 February 2006, 06:00 CST

By Lee Bloomquist, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn.

Feb. 21--ST. LOUIS COUNTY

Following in the footsteps of Twin Cities-area counties, St. Louis County commissioners this week will begin debating an ordinance that would ban smoking in restaurants and bars countywide.

"It's just common sense," said County Commissioner Steve O'Neil, author of the ordinance. "I don't think there's any doubt that secondhand smoke makes people ill and kills people every year. Why would we want to breathe toxic air that would damage us?"

Minnesota's Clean Indoor Act prohibits smoking in workplaces and requires restaurants to have nonsmoking sections. If approved, the county ordinance would prohibit smoking in public places such as restaurants, hotel lobbies and businesses. Private social functions at private clubs would be excluded.

Ordinance No. 60 would mirror details of a smoking ban approved by Duluth voters in 2001. Commissioners will debate the proposal Tuesday at a County Board workshop in Pike Lake. O'Neil said he might ask the board this month to establish a public hearing date.

A date hasn't been set for when the ban, if approved, would take effect. However, bars that serve snacks such as popcorn would be exempt from the ban until Aug. 1, 2007. Bars that offer full food service would have to build a separate, ventilated area or not allow smoking.

NO LEAD FROM STATE

County commissioners had looked to state lawmakers to take the lead in enacting a statewide ban.

"I had hoped that the state Legislature last year would do it, but they didn't, and it seems unlikely this year also," O'Neil said.

State Rep. Doug Meslow, R-White Bear Lake, who in 2005 sponsored the Freedom to Breathe Act, said the issue is likely to surface during this year's session, which begins March 1.

"I expect it will be taken up in the Legislature this year," Meslow said. "I think Minnesota is continuing to move toward a smoking ban as a way of protecting workers and customers in bars and restaurants. My hope is that this is the year that we will do that."

But a short session with a focus on bonding projects could stub out chances of a smoking ban.

Also, passing a smoking ban within the county or state could be more difficult during an election year.

"I have seen this issue simmer in Duluth through several election cycles," said Pat McKone, senior director for Tobacco Control Programs of the American Lung Association of Minnesota. "But you can see from the numbers that people feel strongly about this ... If I were a campaign manager, I would say that this would be like mom and apple pie."

The Arrowhead Counties Association, which includes Carlton, Cook, Lake, Koochiching and St. Louis counties, will lobby the state to approve a statewide ban, said County Commissioner Steve Raukar of Hibbing.

"I understand the issue that nobody should be subjected to secondhand smoke," Raukar said, "but I think our first effort should be to convince the state to resolve the patchwork that exists out there."

In northern Minnesota, public smoking bans are in effect in Cloquet, Duluth, International Falls and Moose Lake, McKone said. Beltrami, Hennepin, Olmstead, Ramsey and Meeker counties also have bans, she said.

Commissioner Keith Nelson of Virginia said that although he prefers not to be exposed to secondhand smoke, he doesn't believe that "piecemeal or willy-nilly" smoking bans should be implemented.

State lawmakers are waiting for broad support from local jurisdictions, McKone said.

"What we're hearing from state lawmakers is they want to see more at the local level," she said. "It will lie in the county's hands."

OWNERS WEIGH IN

Reactions to the smoking ban proposal are mixed among restaurant and bar owners.

Rich Chalupsky, owner of Sammy's Pizza & Restaurant in Hibbing, is a former smoker who said he knows what it's like to be addicted to cigarettes. His restaurant has separate dining areas for smokers and nonsmokers.

Chalupsky said he's not opposed to a smoking ordinance and sees "the whole world" moving toward smoking bans in public places. But he wants to see all restaurants and bars treated the same.

Steve Swanstrom, owner of the family-oriented Island Lake Inn about 20 miles north of downtown Duluth, believes smoking is a "rotten" habit.

However, Swanstrom -- who maintains a nonsmoking restaurant area that's separate from his bar -- said a countywide ban could hurt the tourism industry.

"I happen to be in a tourist-type area," Swanstrom said. "I think they're going to have to look at where some of their tourist industry dollars come from. ... There's an awful lot of tourists who aren't going to understand that they have to go outside for a cigarette."

Though the city of Virginia doesn't have a smoking ban, Grandma's Restaurant in Virginia recently went smoke-free at the request of customers, said Tony Boen, Grandma's corporate regional manager. Grandma's in Virginia doesn't have a sit-down bar.

"We've gotten some pretty good comments from our guests, and business has been pretty stable," Boen said. "Out of the chutes, it seems to be a pretty good decision."

At the same time, Boen said, Grandma's in Duluth -- which has a sit-down bar -- has lost business since the city smoking ban went into effect.

"We're trying to tell legislators that our guests will tell us if we should go nonsmoking," Boen said.

SUPPORT MAY BE STRONG

Smoking ban supporters say some elected officials may be out of touch with the majority of their constituents on the issue.

"I think they underestimate the level of support the public has for this," McKone said. "The first voices they hear are the opponents, and some say it's a 50-50 split, but it's not even close to that."

Commissioner Bill Kron of Duluth said that while on visits to the Iron Range, he has heard from restaurant customers and truck drivers who favor a ban.

"I've been getting comments from people on the Range saying that it's high time," Kron said.

Over the past two years, the American Lung Association has collected signatures from about 18,000 county residents who support a ban, McKone said.

O'Neil, who campaigned for the Duluth smoking ban, said no matter what happens in coming weeks, he will continue to seek a countywide ban.

"If I don't feel like I can get it through now, I will try again later," he said. "I clearly think that the people of St. Louis County want this done."

LEE BLOOMQUIST covers the St. Louis County Board. He can be reached weekdays at (800) 368-2506, (218) 744-2354 or by e-mail at leebloom@cpinternet.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Duluth News-Tribune (Duluth, Minn.)

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