JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL Public Hearing – August 30, 2006
COUNCIL & STAFF PRESENT:
Martha Rowe Mayor
Dale Blesz Councilmember
Tim Crist Councilmember
Jill McCord Councilmember
Jeff Newton Councilmember
Mari E. Macomber City Manager
Vickie Brumbaugh City Clerk
Paul Frazier Code Administrator
Jim Hughes Police Chief
Kris McKim Assistant City Manager
The City Council of the City of Kirksville met at 7:00 p.m. in the Mehegan Classroom of Gutensohn Clinic on the A.T. Still University campus, 800 West Jefferson.
PUBLIC HEARING
Mayor Rowe opened the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. to hear citizen comments regarding a smoke free environment ordinance.
Alex Nichting stated that her mother currently smokes and has a difficult time stopping. A no-smoking ban in Kirksville may help her to stop smoking.
Sarah Shelton stated this is an opportunity for Kirksville to become a pioneer city by passing an ordinance to ban smoking.
Judy Lene said she has emphysema, and referred to her oxygen companion. She grew up with parents who smoked. She also was a smoker who exposed others to second hand smoke. Judy asked for a safe environment for other people.
Jan Collins, Washington Street Java, said that her business became smoke free in 2001, and she believes their business has grown.
Justin Puckett, 110 West Harrison, stated it is the government’s responsibility to consider and pass an ordinance to save lives.
Diana Cheatum, 1415 East Patterson, is a member of the Moose Lodge. She is a non-smoker, but does not support a ban on restaurants and bars. The choice should be up to the business establishment.
Pat Ellebracht, 2505 South First, said we would be better off with a no smoking environment.
Eleanor Ellebracht, 2505 South First, stated that she has had a throat problem since childhood and when she is around smoke, she starts to cough and can’t breath. She asked for non-smoking in public places.
Tiffany Bowman, 4920 Forum Boulevard, Columbia, is a Truman student, conducted a survey of 486 students and the results were: 56% prefer to go to a bar that is non-smoking; 9.8% prefer a bar with smoking.
John Applegate, 1303 South Lewis, has a friend who suffers from asthma and suffers around a smoking environment. He is opposed to legislation that limits the rights of others, but this is different. Smoking limits his rights at a restaurant.
Lesa Ketterlinus, 1703 Meadow View Drive, expressed that she has an extreme sensitivity to smoke. She avoids businesses that allow smoking. Her parents died from smoke-related illnesses.
Dr. Najma Usmani, 30 Overbrook Drive, pulmonologist, stated she feels bad about giving non-smokers news about emphysema because they have been exposed to second-hand smoke. She is not a frequent visitor to smoking restaurants.
Tom Mayer, 701 South Bradford, works at the lung health clinic. He tests people who have been exposed to second-hand smoke. He has to talk to people who are experiencing health problems due to a smoking environment.
Alana DeCooyer, 2201 Oak Lane, stated it is her right to go into a business without there being smoke there. She does not go into those businesses that allow smoking. Kirksville should set a standard by banning smoking here.
David Nichols, 1401 East Highland, asked that Kirksville join other cities who are banning smoking. He looks forward to going to a bar where there would be no smoking allowed.
T.P. Fowler, 2206 Crestline Drive, owner of TP’s Bar, stated he is a smoker and the businesses should be given a choice to allow smoking.
Charles Cannaday, 415 East Pierce, owns his own business. He stated that establishments should be able to choose what they want to do.
Melody Jennings, 19486 White Oak Trail, encouraged the Council to take steps to ban smoking. Children are exposed to smoke, and are more vulnerable to illness.
Brenda Sewell, owns Uptown Café, presented a petition signed that says business owners should have the right to choose. She said that 80% of her patrons are smokers.
Barbara Wallace, 1401 Queens Road, owns Ryan’s Bar and Grill, said they will lose business if smoking is banned. The insurance, County, City and cleaning business will lose money. She said perhaps existing businesses could be grandfathered.
Barbara Bonham, 116 East Jefferson, Apt 22, an employee of Ryan’s Bar and Grill, said that second hand smoke research is not founded.
Sue Grim, Steer Creek Way, stated she is a smoker, is 68 years old, and has two healthy children. She agreed with the right to choose.
Dr. Arthur Freeland, 21757 Elmwood Trail, a family physician, said in 1986 there was a good study that second hand smoke related to cancer. In 1990’s it was found that short and minimal time around smoke could clog the arteries. Low amounts of smoke affect the heart. Second–hand smoke has immediate impact on our health.
Brittany Schuttehenrich, 223 Campbell Apartments, South Florence, said she spent her childhood in a home with parents who smoked. She and her sister missed school due to pneumonia and they later found that she and her sister were allergic to cigarette smoke.
Nicole Stevens, 502 North Elson, worked two years in a smoking area of a restaurant. She did not have a choice since she needed a job. She asked that smoking be banned.
Peter Guirguis, 901 South Riggen, Apt. 5, reported that one year after restaurants and bars were banned from smoking in New York, their businesses boomed. Maryville was the first city in Missouri to ban smoking, and their business has doubled.
Carol Cox, 1709 East LaHarpe, said that smoke free will be good for health and business. Cleaning and maintenance cost of building environment will be reduced if businesses become smoke free.
Joe Stauber, 307 East Normal, Apt 15, stated there are economic benefits. Employees who smoke cost their employer and building owners for cleaning.
Melicien Tettambel, 800 West Jefferson, Gynecologist, teaches women’s health. She shared the life of a woman who smoked and her five pregnancies which resulted in miscarriages. The woman had asthma. A recent study conducted this year of four women who are smokers have breast cancer. She stated that her choice is to have a healthy life.
Weslee Chew, 402 East McPherson Street, Apt A, reported that no ventilation system can adequately eliminate secondhand smoke. She encourages the passage of a smoke free ordinance.
Emily Krogmann, Campbell Apartments, said she supports the ordinance to ban smoking. People should not have to choose between a job and their health.
Linda Yearns, 1001 North Edgar, had filled out a speakers card, but did not come forth when her name was called.
Chaeli Dougherty, 1018 West Missouri Street, said that if smoking is banned in public places, that perhaps this would stop smoking in the homes also.
Bryan Campbell, 917 South Riggen, said that in a Disease Control Study, it was found that a room full contains 6% more smoke than a busy street.
Andrew Kling, 800 East Illinois, said that he worked in restaurants and bars in New York before coming to Kirksville. It is a relief not to have to shower and do laundry to get smoke out of his clothes after coming home from his job.
Jennifer Eldridge Houser, 2310 North Oak Lane, gave an example of a waitress who works in a smoking business and is pregnant. The infant of three months has already been exposed to smoke. They did not have a choice.
Reverend Jim Robinson, First United Methodist Church, said that his dad smoked and he never inhaled, but he died.
Nancy Hulen, 906 East Dear, said she is an adamant non-smoker. She suggested getting people together to let a business know that they want it as a non-smoking environment. She expressed concern that people will have to cross the street, going out of their way from smokers who are standing outside smoking.
Alisha Hahn, 215 West Normal, thanked the Council for their “yes’ vote to ban smoking in public places.
Rebecca Verhaeghe, 215 West Normal, thanked the Council for their support of a smoke free environment.
Tara Osseck, 215 West Normal, said she wanted to respond to the employee of Ryan’s that brief exposure to second hand smoke can be chronic. Her ten-year old sister has asthma due to her parents’ smoking.
Leon Durham, 1009 North Franklin, Apt B, said he is 68 years old and is a smoker. He tries to respect his family members by not smoking inside their homes.
Fred Peterson, 2201 Crestline Drive, said he is tired of paying for smoker’s diseases. His father, step-father and mother died of smoke related diseases. One-half hour of smoke exposure affects us.
Jesse Lobb, 707 Woodwind Court, a Pediatrician stated that second hand smoke is the number one reason for children’s illnesses. Children do not have a choice. She asked the Council to vote for an ordinance to protect children who do not have a choice.
Councilmember Blesz stated his appreciation to the people present, and that the Council will consider balancing the people’s rights.
There were approximately 300 people in attendance.
There being no further comments, Mayor Rowe closed the public hearing at 8:38 p.m.
Vickie Brumbaugh, CMC, MRCC
City Clerk