Residents say they want ‘no smoking’
9 P.M. UPDATE: Voters in a local community say they are in favor of smoking ban.
On Tuesday, Farmington the majority of voters gave their approval for the Farmington City Council to enact an ordinance which amends the municipal code to include smoking regulations.
The unofficial total shows 500 (58 percent) voted yes for the ordinance to go into effect while 349 voted no. A simple majority was needed for the ballot measure.
The only ward voting down the measure was Ward III by one vote – 56 “yes to 57 “no” votes.
The ban goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2016.
Farmington Mayor Mit Landrum said surveys of residents consistently showed about two-thirds of the residents wanting to go smoke-free.
“(The city) felt it was not good representative government unless we at least tried to get (a smoking ban) before the people so they could vote on it,” he said. “We went to the legislature twice for the city of Farmington to have the right to have a binding election.
“We passed an ordinance and the ordinance stipulates (it) is binding only if the people ratify it (by a vote). And, they did this evening.”
The unofficial vote totals show 849 total votes were cast for the ballot initiative – a number that Landrum said is more than four times higher than many predicted.
“This is a topic that a lot of people care about … it was only necessary for the measure to have a simple majority,” he said. “I’m happy the vote turned out the way it did. I think Farmington is a leader as far as cities in the state of Missouri and this is another example of people being willing to be more progressive and to stand up for the rights of the public.”
The ordinance prohibits the use of “lighted or heated cigarettes, cigars, pipes or other devices or materials intended for the purpose of using tobacco or other smoke-producing products, or electronic cigarettes, within an enclosed place of employment” in the city of Farmington.
Places the ban would be enacted include buildings owned and operated by the city, indoor places of entertainment or recreation and restaurants – including lounge and bar areas, except outdoor dining areas which are not “enclosed areas” as defined in the ordinance.
Smoking would also be prohibited within 25 feet of the entry of a government building and within 15 feet of the entry of a public building.
Among the exceptions in the ordinance are private residences not serving as enclosed places of employment or public places, private clubs, permanently designated smoking rooms (not to exceed 20 percent), private and semi-private rooms in nursing homes and long-term care facilities (the residents of which are all smokers and have requested to be placed in a smoking room), cigar bars and similar settings.
Landrum said discussions were held with local business owners before the public hearings were held in May and June. He anticipates meeting with those businesses again before the ordinance goes into effect.
Landrum acknowledge he understands those who say it is the business owners’ right to decide if smoking should be allowed at their establishments.
“For me, this is simply a question of public health … that people have a right not to breathe toxic fumes,” he said.
This was the only measure on the Nov. 3 general election in St. Francois County. County Clerk Mark Hedrick said it was the first time the electronic voter check-in was used in the Farmington precincts.
He said there were no problems reported with the system, which scans the bar code found on Missouri driver’s licenses and the voter ID cards.
Hedrick said the only calls his office received were from those who were not able to vote due to not living in the city limits of Farmington.
ORIGINAL STORY: Today, Farmington voters were to determine if the city would implement a no smoking ban in certain establishments.
The unofficial total shows 500 (58 percent) voted yes for the ban while 349 voted no.
The ballot measure asked voters if the city should enact the ordinance amending the municipal code to include smoking regulations. The ordinance would prohibit the use of “lighted or heated cigarettes, cigars, pipes or other devices or materials intended for the purpose of using tobacco or other smoke-producing products, or electronic cigarettes, within an enclosed place of employment” in the city of Farmington.
Places the ban would be enacted include buildings owned and operated by the city, indoor places of entertainment or recreation and restaurants – including lounge and bar areas, except outdoor dining areas which are not “enclosed areas” as defined in the ordinance.
Smoking would also be prohibited within 25 feet of the entry of a government building and within 15 feet of the entry of a public building.
Among the exceptions in the ordinance are private residences not serving as enclosed places of employment or public places, private clubs, permanently designated smoking rooms (not to exceed 20 percent), private and semi-private rooms in nursing homes and long-term care facilities (the residents of which are all smokers and have requested to be placed in a smoking room), cigar bars and similar settings.
Check back for more details later at dailyjournalonline.com.
Farmington Mayor Mit Landrum, at right, relays the early vote totals on the smoking ban ordinance by phone to City Administrator Greg Beavers as Ward IV Alderman Garett Boatright calculates the numbers. The measure passed by a total of 500 “yes” votes to 349 “no” votes for the city to enact a measure which enacts the ordinance amending the municipal code to include smoking regulations.
