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Smoking ban may include
parks and fairgrounds
posted 11/30/05
San Juan County Commissioners agreed to consider a "campus-wide" smoking ban. If adopted there would be no smoking allowed at county buildings or grounds. This would include the fairgrounds and county parks. A voter approved state-wide ban on smoking in public buildings goes into effect Dec. 8. Under state law, smokers are allowed to light up 25 feet from a building's entrance.
The county's proposed ban exceeds the state law. Commissioners Kevin Ranker and Alan Lichter favored following county Health Officer Dr. Frank James' advice and imposing the stricter ban. Commissioner Bob Myhr preferred going with the state law.
A public hearing will be scheduled before any ordinance is imposed.
San Juan County number one in state
posted 07/29/04
Being number one in the state for sales of cigarettes to minors, is one honor San Juan County could do without. Martha Sharon of the county Health Dept. said the most recent compliance check resulted in a 36 percent failure rate. Of the 25 stores carrying cigarettes, fourteen were tested. In five of the 14 businesses, an employee sold cigarettes to someone under 16 years of age.
County Health Officer Dr. Frank James has spoken to the store owners. "The owners of the stores have a commitment to not make it happen again," he said. "Internal vigilance is what it is about."
One technique to make sure cigarettes aren't sold to minors is in use at Kings Market and Market Place in Friday Harbor. When a pack of cigarettes are scanned, the register displays a message asking for the customer's birth date. If the customer appears to be under 30, employees ask for identification and key in the birth date. If the person appears to be over 35 years old, the cashier can override the register.
Smoking ban not favored by majority of BOCC
posted 07/29/04
San Juan County Commissioner Darcie Nielsen's proposed ban on smoking on county property was rejected by the other two commissioners. Nielsen suggested a $75 fine could be levied against anyone smoking at any county-owned property including parks.
Concern about the health effects of secondhand smoke, the image projected to the public and increased health insurance costs drove her to suggest the ban.
Commissioner John Evans said, "There are places for government to go and places for government not to go." Public health decisions should be based on scientific data not "narrow-minded value judgments," he said. He asked if a ban on snack foods, fatty foods and salt would be next.
Commissioner Rhea Miller did not see the need to criminalize smoking. If there is a problem, it could be dealt with through a memo to employees, she said. "I think most of the time it takes a simple conversation," she said.
Nielsen was willing to revisit personnel policies, but said, "I am shocked you want to continue to perpetuate the poor public image. County employees, smoking in doorways, set a poor role model for high school students walking by the courthouse, she said.
She reiteratedn the health risk of secondhand smoke. Walking through a cloud of smoke in order to enter the building is "a violation of my public health," Nielsen said.
County Health Officer Dr. Frank James said any exposure can be significant. "Minor exposures have an affect on other people's health," he said. He cited a study which showed a 40 percent decrease in heart attacks during the six months a smoking ban was in effect in Helena, Montana. The ban was later overturned in court.
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