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Health department to discuss possible smoking ban Thursday

June 10, 2008|Katheran Wasson

To smoke or not to smoke in public - that's still the question in Clark County.

This week, the Clark County Board of Health will consider its next step in pursuing a ban on smoking in restaurants, bars, government buildings and workplaces, said Scott Lockard, director of public health.

"They (Board of Health) have had forums and got a lot of feedback from the community," he said. "They will explore the prospect of whether or not to proceed with a smoke-free regulation."

The Board of Health will discuss the issue at its regular meeting Thursday and has also scheduled another community forum to get more input, Lockard said. The forum will be June 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the George Rogers Clark High School auditorium.

Five counties and 12 cities in Kentucky have enacted community-wide public smoking bans, including nearby Lexington-Fayette County, Madison County, Danville, Franklin County and Morehead, according to the Kentucky Tobacco Policy Research Program at the University of Kentucky's College of Nursing.

A survey of Clark County residents in early 2007 showed that 53.3 percent would be in favor of an ordinance against smoking in public buildings, and the Community Survey in November found that support had grown to 65.2 percent.

According to a 2007 study by the Kentucky Institute of Medicine, 27 percent of Clark County adults and 24 percent of high school students smoke. The figure is lower than the statewide smoking rate, but higher than the national smoking rate.

The Clark County Board of Health will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Health Department, 400 Professional Ave., in the conference room. The 2009 budget is also on the agenda.

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