After a year of preparations, the Laurel City Council Tuesday approved the first reading of a smoke free ordinance.
The ordinance, titled as “City of Laurel Smoke-free Air Act of 2008,” is designed to eliminate smoking in public places and places of employment within the City of Laurel.
With a vote of 4 to 3 — with Councilmen Tony Thaxton, Tony Wheat and Johnny Magee voting against it — the ordinance, which has been debated as the council regulating private property, was approved.
Thaxton said he “questions the real need to have an ordinance of this nature when 90 percent of the businesses are already smoke-free.”
Wheat said he also does not see the need.
“I’m not comfortable with telling business owners who have purchased property what they can or cannot do in their business. It’s not right,” Wheat said. “It’s an attempt to control.”
Ruben Castro and Douglas Castro, owners of La Fiesta Bravo and The Alamo, came and expressed their concern about the smoking ban.
Magee offered a substitute motion to allow some businesses to opt out of the ordinance enforcement. That motion failed and the original motion passed signifying the first reading of the ordinance.
Council president George Carmichael said a committee will meet to discuss some council members’ and business owners’ concerns about the ordinance prior to the ordinance’s second reading.
Lillie Willis with the American Cancer Society began working on the ordinance for the city in October 2007.
Carmichael, Willie L. Evans, Felecia Breland and Manuel Jones voted in favor of approving the ordinance.
In a separate matter Tuesday, a majority of the members of the City Council voted for the second time to require that the next City of Laurel’s Chief Administrative Officer live within the city.
This matter was first voted on during the council’s Sept. 16 meeting. However Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack vetoed the council’s order.
Again this week, Magee proposed the ordinance requiring the city’s CAO to live within the City of Laurel. The proposed ordinance would become effective for the next term and thereafter.
The council with a 4-3 vote — with Councilmen Thaxton, Wheat and Jones voting against it — approved the order requiring city residency.
During Tuesday’s meeting, officials agreed, that this is not the first time this matter has been proposed.
Carmichael said he supported the order requiring the CAO to be a city resident because of citizens’ concerns.
“It’s not personal,” Carmichael said. “It’s what the people in the community have asked for.”
Mack said he would have liked for the ordinance to have a more supportive vote, but would wait until the Personnel Committee meeting later this week to discuss the matter more.
Also Tuesday, residents told the council about health concerns, the ongoing issue concerning garbage collections, and the city’s proposed increases in water and sewer rates.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Photo/Eloria Newell James
-
Photo/Eloria Newell James
Laurel OKs first reading of smoke-free ordinance
Council also sets CAO residency
- Local News
-
-
Arrest made in bomb threat
A 19-year-old Jones County Junior College student was arrested Tuesday in connection with a bomb threat to a building on the school’s campus earlier in the day.
-
City council votes 5-1 to restrict transient vendors
With little discussion, the Laurel City Council voted to put restrictions on transient vendors operating in the city and to change the grade level of the city’s building inspector.
-
Aspiring to greatness
The Rev. Leander Bridges was the keynote speaker at Jones County Junior College’s Black History Program Tuesday.
-
JCJC’s student health fair focusing on prevention
Jones County Junior College students recently had the opportunity to discover the true meaning of Benjamin Franklin’s motto, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” at the college’s Student Health Fair. Hundreds of students took advantage of the opportunity to learn about a wide range of topics including behavioral problems, nutrition, fitness, and foot care.
-
Arbor Day set for Feb. 10
The City of Laurel is recognizing Arbor Day and Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack has proclaimed Friday, Feb. 10th, as Arbor Day in the City of Laurel.
-
Zoo owners ask judge to return animals
The owners of the Collins Zoo have asked a judge to return 11 animals seized by state wildlife officers in January.
-
Several injured in separate 84 East wrecks
The jaws of life were used at about 4:55 p.m. Saturday to free victims of a two-vehicle accident on Highway 84 East, the second serious accident in that area in two days.
-
Animal cruelty case under investigation
Officials are continuing to investigate a case where several animals were seized last week from a home in the Beat Four Community of Wayne County.
-
Piazza becomes city’s Public Defender
In a special ceremony last week at Laurel City Hall, local attorney John Piazza was sworn in as the City of Laurel Public Defender.
-
Jasper County officials work to make upgrades at fire station, voting precinct
Jasper County officials are continuing to work to make improvements at one of the county’s fire stations and voting precincts.
- More Local News Headlines
-
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
