It looks as if an effort to ban public smoking in Winfield is starting to gather some momentum.
Mayor Mike Ledy said Thursday he expects the city commission to consider some form of a clean air ordinance by year’s end. His comments came following a public forum in which several individuals and groups backed such an ordinance.
“We’re going to be looking at something sooner rather than later,” Ledy said. “Something will be coming in the future.”
Winfield commissioners had delayed discussions on a public smoking ban ? first proposed by Clean Air Cowley County more than a year ago ? until the legislature made a decision on a statewide smoking ban. The 2008 session closed without a decision and state Sen. Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, told the audience she’s not hopeful anything will happen soon.
“Take the initiative,” she said. “Don’t wait on the state.”
About 30 people attended Thursday’s public comment session at Baden Square. The forum included a presentation from Ginger Park, media and policy coordinator for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Park said about 40 percent of people in the state live in a city with a clean air ordinance. Some cities have arranged for exemptions for some establishments ? like bars and restaurants ? but others have not.
Park cited Newton as a city close in size to Winfield that has enacted a far-reaching ban with no exemptions.
Ledy could not say yet how restrictive a Winfield ordinance might be or what exemptions were possible. Several who made public comment asked that there be no exemptions.
None of the 30 or so people in attendance spoke in opposition to a smoking ban and the meeting even included an endorsement from members of a local private club. Don Key and Byron Jones, members of American Legion Post 10, said they back a ban as a health benefit to aging members who are club members.
“We want to show our support for a ban on smoking, on all public smoking,” Key said. “Many of our members have reached an age where health issues” are a concern.
Ledy said he expects the tone could change a bit once the city determines what a ban would entail specifically and how an ordinance would be enforced.
“Tonight was preaching to the choir,” he said. “When we propose something, or enact it, that’s when we’ll get some opposition.”
Clean Air Cowley County and the City-Cowley County Health Department hosted the forum.
