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Smoke rule draws ire 

The Teton County Health Department has received a late surge of public comments against a countywide smoking ban.

E-mails continued to trickle in to the health department Monday, the day before the public health board was to consider a measure that would prohibit lighting up in all public places, including bars and restaurants. The board is expected to vote on the proposal during a meeting at 9 a.m. today in the Teton County commissioners chambers.

County health manager Terri Gregory extended the comment period until today's meeting even though the required 45-day period ended March 15. She provided a copy of the comments Monday. More than 50 people had expressed their views through e-mails, phone calls and the county's Web site.

Last week, Gregory reported that a vast majority of the comments were in support of the rule. Since then, the number of opponents weighing in has nearly equaled that of supporters.

"I am not a smoker, but am fine with the current arrangement, where all but one restaurant/bars have banned smoking on their own," Dave Rhinehart wrote in his comments.

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