A matter of boundries

By Julian Emerson
Leader-Telegram staff

A ban on smoking in public places could soon be expanded countywide, but don’t expect bars and restaurants in Altoona, Fall Creek, Fairchild and Augusta to snuff out smoking in the near future.

Officials in those Eau Claire County cities and villages would be exempt from smoking regulations proposed by County Board Chairman Bruce Willett. The proposed ban would be based on smoking regulations adopted Tuesday that prohibit smoking in taverns and other indoor workplaces in Eau Claire.

Cities and villages would be exempt from county smoking regulations because rules of those municipalities supersede those of the county.

“There is no momentum in that direction right now,” Altoona City Administrator Mike Golat said when asked about the possibility of smoking regulations there. “There just doesn’t seem to be any support for it here.”

Golat acknowledged some Altoona residents might back a public smoking ban, and similar smoking restrictions could be in Altoona’s future someday, especially if the state Legislature enacts a statewide ban.

“We just don’t know right now how this will play out,” he said. “What happened in Eau Claire could catch on here. We’ll have to wait and see.”

The possible failure of surrounding communities to enact smoking regulations in the wake of regulations adopted in Eau Claire has a precedent. Eight years ago the city enacted a restaurant smoking ban, but of nearby municipalities only Menomonie adopted similar legislation.  

The smoking debate has received plenty of attention in recent years as attempts to enact a statewide smoking ban have failed. Ban supporters were optimistic a statewide ban would be enacted during this legislative session, but the issue fizzled amid controversy.

(Read more in Sunday's Leader-Telegram.)