By PAIGE E. WASSEL, Daily Journal of Johnson County staff writer
While Johnson County’s two cities have passed smoking bans, the men who oversee county government are too busy on other projects to consider a countywide ban, one county commissioner said.
The Johnson County Board of Health, which recommended a smoking ban to the commissioners in late February, is tired of waiting. Board members voted on the smoking ban again in April, only this time the vote was to ask the commissioners to pass some sort of ban as soon as possible.
Now, the commissioners want to review the bans Greenwood and Franklin have passed before moving forward.
Board of health president Debbie Swinehamer said she was told that the commissioners were waiting to see what action Franklin would take on a ban before putting the item on their agenda.
The Franklin City Council passed a ban Monday night prohibiting smoking in public places except bars and private clubs beginning Aug. 1. The ordinance mirrors the one already in place in Greenwood.
Swinehamer said that if the commissioners don’t have the item on the agenda at their May 15 meeting she plans to attend the meeting and bring the issue up.
The countywide ban recommended by the board of health would prohibit smoking in all public places.
Commissioner R.J. McConnell wasn’t sure when they might discuss a possible smoking ordinance.
“It’s not even on our radar screen,” he said. “We have a lot of other priorities right now that are keeping us busy.”
Commissioner Tom Kite said they’ve been busy discussing possible routes for an east-west corridor, trying to get a new highway director and getting a new phone system in all of the county’s government buildings.
Commissioner Mitch Ripley said the three-member board hasn’t had a chance to discuss putting the item on the agenda.
The commissioners want the board of health to make a presentation on the ban at one of their weekly meetings, he said.
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