Smoking ban could filter down to counties

February 2, 2006
BEN BOTKIN

GALESBURG - Knox County leaders eventually may be able to impose a countywide smoking ban in public places including bars, taverns and restaurants.

A bill proposed in the Illinois Senate would allow counties to impose bans for indoor workplaces in unincorporated areas outside municipalities. State Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said the bill is an extension of legislation passed in 2005 that allows municipalities to put smoking restrictions in place.

Counties currently don't have that legal power.

"If there's an unincorporated area across the street from a town, then that county board could match the ordinance that was passed in the city," Cullerton said. "It's a local control issue."

Cullerton introduced the bill after officials in Springfield raised concerns that businesses within the city limits are at an unfair disadvantage to those in Sangamon County. Officials in that county are interested in enacting a smoking ban if allowed to do so by state law.

In Knox County, though, that hasn't become an issue yet.

Board chairman Jan Occhi, D-Dist. 3, said no one has inquired about whether the county can ban smoking.

"Nobody has brought it up pro or con on either side," she said. "I can see both sides. I would hope the board, if it's brought up, would study the issue. There are two sides to each issue."

Board member Wayne Saline, R-Dist. 4, said no one has asked him, either. He said he wouldn't support a ban in the county that keeps people from lighting up in public places.

"It's just a personal intrusion into your personal day-to-day life," he said, adding that such bans are pushed by a small group of people. "If they don't like to smoke, they can go to a different place."

Board member Dale Parsons, D-Dist. 3, said he would be open to a smoking ban if someone brought the issue before the board.

"I think our County Board as a whole would listen to whatever someone proposed to us," he said. "Who knows? It might pass."

The Illinois Association of County Board Members and Commissioners supports the bill. The measure would provide a balance between cities and counties, said Kelly Murray, the organization's executive director.

"We feel that local officials have the right and responsibility to deal with matters of public health and safety," she said. "This would allow the counties to determine by public support and local policy if that's what their community desires to do."

State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, said he is inclined to support the bill because it gives power to local government entities.

"Whenever possible, I like to empower local government," he said. "It would be a local decision with lots of local input."

State Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, said he hasn't decided how he will vote for the bill. He questions the conflict between tobacco being legal and smoking bans.

"We've got cigarettes that we say are legal and yet we're wanting to ban smoking everywhere," he said. "I'm probably going to vote for it, but I have reservations. How big of a problem is this in order to take away people's freedom to smoke when it's a legal thing to sell them and smoke?"

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