Mayor: Parity of comments 'further complicates issue'

It wasn’t planned that way, but the city’s top elected official, looking for parity in representing both sides of a proposed ban on smoking in the workplace, reflected a day after on the evenness presented from speakers during Monday’s City Council meeting.

Initially, proponents of a ban were asked to step forward, and 10 did before no one answered the call for further comment.

Then, opponents were asked to address the overflowing City Council Chambers, and, again, 10 stepped up to voice their concerns. When it was over 95 minutes later, the council agreed 10-1 to incorporate their opinions into a third draft — a second revision — for representation to the board.

“I was surprised by the evenness of those who spoke out on both sides of the issue,” said Mayor William S. Jenks III on Tuesday, a day after the marathon session.

“I think that much parity further complicates the issue for the council,” he said. “There were some very good points made, and we’re listening. Right now, we don’t have a document to present to the council. We’ll make these revisions and again bring it back for the council to review.”

Proponents of a smoking ban in workplaces first took to the podium and the first speaker was Jason Sharp, director of Radiation Oncology at Phelps County Regional Medical Center. It was Sharp’s third time addressing the panel on this issue.

Others supporting the smoking ban in workplaces include nurses Cheryl Hoerr and Adrienne Schmedeke, consultant Jamie Myers, University of Missouri educator Dean Anderson, Lonna Sowers, who read a letter from a Columbia businessman who stated a ban did not hurt his business; Tom Sager, who talked of the “pollution perils” of smoking as seen through the eyes of his grandson; Kent Davis, a PCRMC employee, who said he is grateful to be working in a smoke-free workplace; Johnny Jones, known to the council for his disapproval of flooding problems near his home, spoke about providing a safer environment for his 2-year-old son, and Steven Scholz, the co-owner of Benton Square, who urged the council to make a decision before he opens his restaurant because he doesn’t want to.

The first person to take to the podium expressing opposition to the smoking ban is a familiar face to City Council members, local businessman Floyd Huffman, who sees the ban as a rights violation.

Others speaking out against the ban include Don Rowland, who also sees a smoking-ban ordinance as infringement, Harold Fite, wearing a Coachlite Lanes windbreaker, spoke on behalf of the lanes that he said a ban on smoking would affect adversely, Avian Chu, who co-owns the Locker Room pub, told City Council members she, too, sees a smoking ordinance as a rights violation, Matt Williams, who asked whether the ordinance would apply to the Lions Club bingo sessions, John Powell, felt the council was being too heavy-handed with the ban, Geoffrey Horning, Michael Dowdy, Tom Greenway and Kathy Wolfert.

Horning said the ordinance was “unenforceable.” Dowdy said the ordinance was “stepping on toes,” and it’s a matter of personal choice. Greenway, who addressed the council two weeks ago as the owner of “The Grotto” pub countered earlier statements that businesses are unaffected by smoking bans, and Wolfert, a Special Olympics coach, fears a ban would adversely affect Coachlite Lanes where she takes her Special Olympians for outings.

Revisions to the ordinance could come as early as the April 5 City Council meeting.