SOUTH BEND -- The nine-member St. Joseph County Council met Tuesday night to hammer out changes and compromises to the county's proposed no-smoking ordinance.
The retooled measure will be presented and voted on by the council at a special meeting Jan. 17.
Councilman Dale DeVon of Granger guided fellow council members through revisions resulting from a November council review session. DeVon and Councilman Michael Kruk of South Bend are co-authors of the measure, which has been under consideration for the past year.
If approved by the council, the ordinance would prohibit smoking in many public areas. Typical venues include restaurants (except those that restrict patrons to 18 years old and older), buses, public transportation depots and waiting areas, taxicabs, sports arenas, health-care facilities, bowling alleys, parks and recreation areas and not-for-profit private clubs.
The St. Joseph County health department would handle complaint-based enforcement duties. Violators could face penalties ranging from verbal and written warnings for first and second offenses to fines up to $500 for additional violations.
As some provisions were reviewed, particularly those for work sites, several council members questioned need for the ordinance. It was noted that the top 10 St. Joseph County employers now maintain smoke-free workplaces.
"If more and more businesses are eliminating smoking in their facilities, is this just unnecessary legislation?" asked Councilman Andrew Kostielney of South Bend. He suggested the county might be better served by making the ordinance a restaurant-only measure.
Kruk countered that the ordinance is designed to level the playing field for all county businesses, as part of an overall effort to improve health of residents.
"I think it also bodes well for attracting new business," he said. "Prospective companies considering locating here are impressed when they see the county is looking out for its people with a measure like this."