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SUNNY Temp: 51 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 22, 2002 County may help state with law on smoking The commissioners will vote on a plan to investigate complaints and pass them on By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune A proposal that would deal with people who break state law by lighting up in the workplace may clear the air for Jackson County commissioners. "There will be no tobacco police," Hank Collins, director of Health and Human Services, said Friday. "It’s really not going to be a big deal. We’re only going to respond to complaints." The board on Wednesday will vote on an agreement between the state and county regarding smoking in the workplace. If the agreement is adopted, the county would investigate complaints and work with business owners who violate the law. If business owners don’t comply, the case would be forwarded to the state for enforcement, Collins said. Commissioners Ric Holt and Jack Walker have been under fire recently for their comments against the idea of a county "smoke cop" who would police establishments and enforce the rules. Holt says he supports the new proposal; Walker wouldn’t comment on it. At a staff meeting on June 6, County Administrator Sue Slack discussed an idea from the Health and Human Services Department to bring enforcement of illegal workplace smoking down to the county level. Enforcement legislation — which is still being drafted — might have allowed the change if commissioners agreed. The county had received nearly a dozen complaints about patrons smoking in businesses or bosses lighting up in the workplace. The county had no way of enforcing those cases and didn’t investigate them, Collins said. Collins suggested paying for the enforcement using a portion of the state’s cigarette tax dollars. The county annually receives approximately $200,000, and the money is earmarked for tobacco prevention and education programs, and pays for two staff positions. At the meeting, Holt vehemently opposed the idea and said people unhappy about smoking in a restaurant "can get up and god---d leave." But after hearing of the new proposal, Holt — a smoker who earlier said he would fight the idea of a county smoking enforcement officer "until my dying day" — said he’s supportive because enforcement will remain with the state. "I have no problem with that ... I don’t mind us going out and investigating it," Holt said. "I felt, and I still feel, that the county should not take on that obligation and have a state-mandated program, especially since we have the OLCC people out there who could field complaints." Walker was quoted in a previous story as saying people who are unhappy because their boss smokes should leave or find another job. He said that statement was misinterpreted, and in comments made Friday said that a person should leave or find another job only if they know before they’re hired that they would be working in a smoking environment. "I don’t support breaking the law," Walker said. "I don’t support people smoking in places they shouldn’t be legally." Walker said the new proposal will be the board’s decision, and would not comment on his opinion. However, Walker said he believes a state law should be enforced on the state level. If the proposal is adopted, Collins said the county will not hire an additional employee to conduct investigations into complaints. The county’s tobacco programs and education employees would assume those duties, he added. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S