Mid-Michigan counties consider smoking ban
The possibility of a statewide smoking ban has been a hot topic of debate in Lansing for quite some time, but after a recent ruling, some individual counties are now holding their own discussions regarding the matter.
In a unanimous decision, the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that counties can now make stricter smoking laws than the state government. This will allow counties to continue deciding on smoking bans in local business establishments, with the exception of restaurants and bars, which are still left up to state lawmakers to decide.
County commissioners in the mid-Michigan area, including Isabella County, appear to be split down the middle on the issue.
"It's been a topic of discussion," said District 6 Commission Chairman David Ling. "Some are animatedly supporting it and some are animatedly against it."
Debate among the Isabella Board of Commissioners regarding a possible smoking ban is still in its early developments. Ling said that he is not sure when a decision will be made, but predicted that discussions of the topic will likely heat up over the next few weeks.
Gratiot County already rejected a proposed ban by the Mid-Michigan District Health Department in 2007, but has now formed a committee with Clinton and Montcalm Counties to look into the subject further.
David Eldridge is one Gratiot County commissioner who strongly opposes a county wide ban, and even voted against the formation of the committee.
"It's a useless waste of time, energy and finances to create and implement a ban," he said. "The money and the resources should be spent to help people who want to quit...80 percent of all smokers want to quit."
Eldridge said he does not see the logic in starting a public smoking ban, and that doing so would only help the county's personal agenda, not the public. Businesses in Gratiot that allow smoking are already in the minority, and the overall public smoking situation in the county is unproblematic, he said.
"Businesses should be able to make their own decisions," he said.
Currently, the Clare County Board of Commissioners has not brought up the subject at any of its meetings and has no plans to do so anytime soon.
"Right now, we're a little more concerned with outlining the budget and cutting costs," said Karen Lipovsky, Clare County District 6 commission chairwoman.
Ling said that the ruling by the state government appears to be a reasonable one.
"It can be argued that (the counties) should have that authority," he said. "Historically, their power has been very limited."
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