City Council may mull smoking ordinance during next meeting

“We’re going to be looking at this closely, and we’re having it checked out with how this compares to two or three other places,” Rose said of the ordinance that is being drafted by City Attorney Warren Hopkins. “We’re hoping to have this ready in two, maybe three, weeks for a first reading, but we’ve still got some things to look at before that happens.”

The measure began getting attention from the council during its April 26 meeting, which came two weeks after a visit from former Kentucky Congressman Ben Chandler, currently the CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. During that talk, coming on the heels of a program he hosted earlier that evening at Murray State University, Chandler told council members that an ordinance that eliminates smoking would result in a healthier community.

Using statistics from Kentucky Health Facts, Chandler said 20 percent of Calloway County citizens are smokers, 17 percent higher than the national average. He said the county is 9 percent higher than the national average when it comes to cancer deaths. 

The Murray-Calloway County Park Board took a stand on the issue earlier this year by banning smoking in all park areas, however, it is believed that this measure cannot have much enforceability unless the city council follows suit. If the council OKs such a measure throughout the city, then city police could get involved; currently, the park has rangers enforcing the ban there. 

There is concern, however, among business owners that their profits could take a hit if an ordinance goes into effect. One of those owners is Ron Gladden of the Big Apple Café, who spoke to the council Thursday. 

“I’m really not opposed or in favor, one way or another. In fact, I’m glad you’re taking this out of my court (where restaurants/bars do not have to enforce the rules themselves), if you choose to go in this direction,” Gladden said. “However, I have a business that does contribute $24,000 a year through the alcohol tax, and 80 percent of my daytime customers are smokers. I fear that a complete ban would not only affect my business, but also would affect the amount of alcohol tax that is paid to the city every year.

“I just ask that the ordinance include something where restaurants and bars could have outdoor designated areas and not ban it entirely.”