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Council approves smoking ban 

The Jacksonville City Council amended the city's smoking ordinance during its meeting Monday night. The new law, initially proposed by Councilman Mark Jones during a work session on April 28, would prohibit smoking "in all enclosed public places within the city."

Businesses that currently use a ventilation system approved under the previous smoking ordinance, which was passed into law on February 14, 2006, are allowed to continue having smoking areas for 15 years after which time those businesses will have to become smoke-free.

According to Mark Williams, the city building inspector, only two businesses in Jacksonville currently allow smoking by using the ventilation system -- Huddle House and Pelham's Bar.

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