Jump to full article: Salina (KS) Journal, 2009-06-01
Author: DAVID CLOUSTON, Salina Journal
Intro: By a 3-2 vote Monday, Salina city commissioners agreed to reopen the issue of a public smoking ban in Salina by having hearings so business operators can appeal for exemptions.
Commissioners Tom Arpke, Samantha Angell and Mayor Luci Larson were in favor of bringing the issue back before the commission, while commissioners Aaron Peck and Norman Jennings were against it. The decision was reached at a commission study session.
No date for the hearings was set Monday.
The city's smoking ban, which applies to virtually all public buildings, took effect May 2.
Arpke, who made it clear in his race for the commission that he opposed the smoking ban, made it clearer still Monday that he wants to make antismoking forces responsible for keeping the ban on the books.
"I'll make it real easy," Arpke told fellow commissioners during a discussion preceding Monday's commission meeting. "I think my goal, when it's all said and done, is to repeal the existing ordinance."
His comment drew applause and cheers from a large group of ordinance opponents who filled the commission's conference room.
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