Second try for a smoking ban

By JOSHUA COFFMAN jcoffman@thenewsenterprise.com RADCLIFF — A dozen supporters of a campaign to snuff out smoking in city businesses gathered Thursday evening to discuss strategy. Smoke-free Radcliff, a venture spun off the Hardin County Tobacco-Free Coalition, met at Mill Creek Baptist Church to consider plans for advertising and other campaigns. The group decided to design a billboard featuring the faces of children before an American flag, embedded with the slogan, “Born free, Breathe free.” The group also discussed upcoming presentations to civic organizations and to City Council, which last year voted against an ordinance to ban smoking in public buildings. A push to have Radcliff officials again consider a smoking ban likely will not happen until next year, after the election and in front of a new council. Councilman Don Yates attended Thursday’s forum, though he said he considered his participation to be as a resident rather than an elected official. Former councilman Jerry Brown, whose name will appear on the November ballot, also attended. Yates told group members he found it ironic that council members passed a no-burning ordinance on the basis of air quality and health but declined to do the same for an ordinance to ban workplace smoking. Brown, who owns a bookstore in the city, said he could understand why some business owners — who frown upon an additional government regulation — are against an ordinance. “But this is not a rights’ issue, this is a health issue,” he said. Funding for advertising comes from state grants. A current billboard cites a survey funded by the group that says 84 percent of Radcliff residents support a smoke-free workplace. Yates said the council did not pass an ordinance last year because too few supporters of a ban showed up at meetings and forums to voice their opinions. The group will meet again at Mill Creek Baptist at 6 p.m. Aug. 21. Joshua Coffman can be reached at (270) 505-1740.