July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
County ban on smoking proposed (06/04/07)
Jay County Commissioners
By By JACK RONALD-
Should Jay County ban smoking in public places?
That question landed in the laps of Jay County Commissioners this morning, with the county health board urging such a ban be established.
"We feel that this is an important step in the right direction to make Jay County a healthier community," said a memo from the board of health to the commissioners. It was signed by health board members Dale Widman, Joni Miller, James Wasson, Virginia Burkey, Barbara Downing, Eric Betts, Sue Hilfiker, and Stephen Myron.
Commissioners expressed little support for an outright ban but indicated the topic deserved wider public discussion.
"I know the repercussions of smoking, but I don't think people want us to dictate," said Milo Miller Jr.
"They (health board members) feel strongly about this," said Dr. Myron, who was on hand this morning to present the recommendation to the commissioners. "Is this something the community wants? We need to hear what the community wants."
Though not expressing support for a smoking ban, commissioner Gary Theurer agreed that as a public health issue it merits discussion. "It's something that needs to be discussed," he said.
A public hearing with the commissioners and the county health board will be held at a time and place to be announced later.
"It's a hot topic with people for and against," Myron noted.
"It's probably going to be 50-50," said Miller.
In other business today, the commissioners:
•Signed a contract with Caremark and the National Association of Counties to provide discount prescription cards for Jay County residents who do not have such cards through their health insurance. It's estimated it will be 8 to 10 weeks before the cards are available. There will be a public announcement by the commissioners when the program is ready to go into effect.
•Learned that Creek Run LLC, Montpelier, had submitted its review of the 1998 removal of underground storage tanks near the jail to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
•Heard complaints from Bryant resident Jim Spade about recent strong manure odors in that community when farmers were applying it to adjacent fields.[[In-content Ad]]
That question landed in the laps of Jay County Commissioners this morning, with the county health board urging such a ban be established.
"We feel that this is an important step in the right direction to make Jay County a healthier community," said a memo from the board of health to the commissioners. It was signed by health board members Dale Widman, Joni Miller, James Wasson, Virginia Burkey, Barbara Downing, Eric Betts, Sue Hilfiker, and Stephen Myron.
Commissioners expressed little support for an outright ban but indicated the topic deserved wider public discussion.
"I know the repercussions of smoking, but I don't think people want us to dictate," said Milo Miller Jr.
"They (health board members) feel strongly about this," said Dr. Myron, who was on hand this morning to present the recommendation to the commissioners. "Is this something the community wants? We need to hear what the community wants."
Though not expressing support for a smoking ban, commissioner Gary Theurer agreed that as a public health issue it merits discussion. "It's something that needs to be discussed," he said.
A public hearing with the commissioners and the county health board will be held at a time and place to be announced later.
"It's a hot topic with people for and against," Myron noted.
"It's probably going to be 50-50," said Miller.
In other business today, the commissioners:
•Signed a contract with Caremark and the National Association of Counties to provide discount prescription cards for Jay County residents who do not have such cards through their health insurance. It's estimated it will be 8 to 10 weeks before the cards are available. There will be a public announcement by the commissioners when the program is ready to go into effect.
•Learned that Creek Run LLC, Montpelier, had submitted its review of the 1998 removal of underground storage tanks near the jail to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
•Heard complaints from Bryant resident Jim Spade about recent strong manure odors in that community when farmers were applying it to adjacent fields.[[In-content Ad]]
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