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Local physician wants smoking ban in Marion

Staff reporter

If local physician Don Hodson has anything to do about it, he would like to see the City of Marion pass an indoor smoking ban in public places such as restaurants, bars, and facilities open to the public.

As a health care provider, he believes he needs to take the lead and encourage the Marion City Council to become proactive in promoting healthy lifestyles, particularly for children who are victims of second-hand smoke.

"Children who live in homes where one or both parents smoke cigarettes could end up with serious health problems," Hodson said, "even if the children never smoke themselves."

He's asking other entities to join him in his campaign.

Through a memo at the Jan. 22 board meeting of Marion County Hospital District #1, Hodson asked for support from hospital district board members and hospital staff in asking city leaders to consider the change.

The smoking ban also would include the restriction of chewing tobacco.

Hodson plans to be on the agenda at a future Marion City Council meeting to present his request.

'Smoking' businesses

There are six restaurants in Marion — Big Scoop, Casa Azteca, Gambino's, Pizza Hut, Wagon Wheel, and Zimmerman's.

Of those, only two make concessions for smoking customers.

Gambino's has a back room or party room that allows smoking.

"We haven't had any complaints from customers (with smoking in that area)," Gambino's owner Jay Smith said.

Pizza Hut allows smoking in one-fourth of its restaurant where smoking is allowed at five of the 20 tables.

For the other restaurant owners, customers have not requested being able to smoke and they do not want smoking in their facilities.

"We don't smoke and we don't want to be around it," Casa Azteca owner Hector Cardenas said.

Other businesses that allow smoking are SherBowl Lanes and Marion VFW.

St. Luke Hospital recently banned tobacco on its property, sending employees to a parking lot across the street from the facilities.

Marion USD 408 hasn't allowed smoking on school grounds for more than 10 years.

Marion County has restricted smoking at the courthouse but employees are permitted to smoke in vehicles and on other county-owned properties.

Marion city properties also are restricted, but allowance had been made in the past for chewing tobacco.

Smoking bans in other cities

Harvey County implemented a ban in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars and within 20 feet of the entrances of those places, in unincorporated areas of Harvey County. Newton and North Newton implemented the same ban, all being effective Jan. 1.

Salina City Council approved a ban in 2002 which prohibits smoking in restaurants between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. The ban only applies to restaurants.

Other cities, dates, and bans include: Lawrence, July 1, 2004, all enclosed public places; Abilene, Aug. 29, 2005, all workplaces except bars and bowling alleys; Fairway, Jan. 1, 2006, all public places; Roeland Park, May 17, 2006, all workplaces including bars and restaurants; Olathe, Nov. 16, 2006, all public places including restaurants, bars, and workplaces (private clubs and fraternal clubs are exempt); Garden City, Jan. 8, 2007, all restaurants, bars, and private clubs, exemption to private offices; and unincorporated areas of Johnson County, April 1, 2007, all enclosed workplaces.

Cities that implemented a ban in January 2008, were Overland Park and Leawood, all workplaces including restaurants and bars, private clubs, and bowling alleys, except outdoor patio areas of restaurants; Prairie Village, all workplaces except bars and restaurants unless all neighboring cities pass bans; and Shawnee, all workplaces including restaurants and private clubs but exempting 25 percent of hotel rooms and any bars which derive less than 33 percent of their gross annual revenues from food sales.

A ban in Westwood was implemented Feb. 1 that prohibits smoking in indoor areas of all public workplaces including restaurants and bars, and within 25 feet of the entrances of those places.

Future bans in cities include Ottawa, June 1, restaurants with bars, fraternal and private clubs exempt; and Derby, Jan. 1, 2009, all workplaces except restaurants and bars unless Wichita passes a smoking ban affecting such establishments.

Sedgwick County Commission rejected a smoking ban in bars and restaurants Nov. 20, 2007.

Kansas Legislature twice rejected a statewide smoking ban — once in January 2007 and again in August 2007.

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