The three-member Delaware County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday morning to enact a county-wide smoking ban following months of controversy among local residents and business owners.
The ban will take effect June 21 and will prohibit smoking in indoor public places such as restaurants, bowling alleys, bingo halls and government buildings. The ban excludes private clubs and residences, apartments, free-standing bars and designated motel rooms.
"I thank everyone both for and against for the input that we have received over the past four months," Board President Tom Bennington said following applause by an audience of almost 50. No audience members voiced complaints or sparked discussion about the ordinance during the meeting.
Bob Jones, Delaware County Health Department administrator, said he appreciated the commissioners' "consideration on this and action on this toward public health." The Delaware County Board of Health approved the plan late last month.
Although one of the biggest concerns regarding the ban was its effect on local businesses, Greek's Pizzeria Manager Brian Burk said his Village restaurant did not suffer a significant decline in business after he voluntarily made it smoke-free three or four years ago.
"There has been maybe one or two complaints but nothing major," Burk said. "Nobody makes a big deal about it."
Craig Grimes, manager of Muncie's Steak n Shake, said efforts to convert Indiana chains to non-smoking establishments has hurt the company's business by 20 to 25 percent. During the past year and a half, six new smoke-free stores were built in Indiana, while more than 50 stores throughout the state still allow smoking, Grimes said.
"But now that some of these companies are going completely non-smoking, I don't feel like it's going to hurt as bad as before because now all restaurants will have to adhere to the policy," Grimes said.
The ban's greatest benefits include a cleaner working and dining environment, although some Ball State University students who smoke will likely not visit the establishment as regularly, especially during the popular homework breaks late at night or early in the morning during Finals Week, Grimes said.
"I feel overall, it's going to be in the students' best interest," Grimes said. "Those who are going to remain smokers are going to seek out a place where they can smoke, whether it be in their own home or an establishment where they can smoke."
Ball State junior Jon Davis, who smokes, said he did not support the county-wide ban and acknowledged complaints from bowling alleys about losing business.
"I don't believe it is reasonable," Davis said. "I think they want to do it because of secondhand smoke. That's the main reason."
But Stan Willis, manager of Munsee Lanes, does not see any benefits to the smoking ban. He even tried to start a non-smoking league at his bowling alley about three times in the past but without success, he said. The alley prohibits smoking only on Saturday mornings when his children bowl, he said.
"My belief is as an owner, it should be my right if I allow smoking or not, Willis said, "and as a consumer, it should be your right whether you patronize me or not."
Freshman Rachel Marshall, however, said she was glad she won't have to deal with secondhand smoke while dining out because of ineffective section partitions in local restaurants.
"It might hurt businesses at first, but I think in the long run, the community will benefit overall," Marshall said.
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