Council committee received few responses on possible ban

Staff Writer

gjohnson@theeasleyprogress.com

EASLEY - A seemingly controversial issue - smoking in public - has surprised city leaders by attracting little to no response from the public.

Earlier this month, Mayor Larry Bagwell appointed a committee to look into possibly banning smoking at outdoor city events and festivals with the options of designating a smoking area or even an all-out ban by way of an ordinance.

The committee met at City Hall Wednesday morning to speak with the public and discuss smoking options but only one resident, a downtown business owner, showed.

City Administrator Fox Simons said that only three people had called City Hall to give their opinions: one against a ban and two in favor of some kind of control.

"One boycotted - didn't come out to the Fourth of July this year because of smoking," Simons said.

The committee - made up of City Council members Kim Valentin, Brian Garrison and Dave Watson - had made attempts at garnering opinions through the media to no avail, Valentin said.

"I was really disappointed in the response," she said.

"I think we should stay out of it," Watson said, adding that he's a recently reformed smoker with no disillusions about the habit.

He is however opposed to a ban because it takes control over private business decisions away from owners.

"Having been a smoker, I know it is very offensive to people, but I don't think we should be passing ordinances just to be passing ordinances," Watson said. "We as government should not be interfering."

Rainbow Billiards owner Ray Welch attended the meeting and agreed. Welch's employees all smoke as do a majority of his clientele, he said.

But Welch quit his habit recently too.

"I wish I'd done it 30 years ago," Welch said, adding that if it wasn't for his business, he'd favor a state-wide ban on cigarettes altogether.

"You're not going to be able to tell the difference 10-15 years from now," Welch said. "It'll just be something people live with, they understand and they go along with it; like in California."

But now isn't the time for such legislation in Easley, he said.

"It's just when it first comes out that it really hurts your business. It really does," Welch said.

Garrison said the health issues surrounding second-hand smoke could not be ignored when considering a ban.

"I've gone from one end to the other end in opinion on this," Garrison said.

"I don't go to those type of establishments that I know are going to be smoking inside," Garrison said. "I'm certainly not going to take my girls there."

In all, only 25 people contributed to the smoking debate, Valentin said.

So in hopes of getting more input before making a decision, the committee invites residents to address the issue at the next City Council meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 11 at the Law Enforcement Center.

Anyone wishing to be heard must sign up sometime by 6:45 p.m. prior to the start of the meeting. For more information, call City Hall at 855-7900.

To take part in the debate without attending the meeting, call Valentin a 354-5036 or send e-mail to kvalentin@cityofeasley.com.