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M/CLOUDY Temp: 96 °F Wind: NW at 7 mph Monday, July 29, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend June 27, 2002 Smoking rules deal approved It’s up to Jackson County to sniff out the smoke, but it will be the state’s task to put out any fires. County commissioners on Wednesday approved an intergovernmental agreement that deals with people who break state law by smoking in the workplace. According to County Administrator Sue Slack, the county employs two tobacco education workers whose positions are funded through the state cigarette tax. The county receives approximately $200,000 annually to pay the workers’ salaries and pay for education and prevention programs. Slack said the county employees would investigate complaints and attempt to get the business owners to comply with the state law. Nearly a dozen complaints have been lodged with the county this year. "We will not seek out complaints," Slack added. Cases that could not be resolved would be forwarded to the state for enforcement. The ban on smoking went into effect in January; it bars people from lighting up in markets, offices and restaurants. Bars, taverns, tobacco shops, bowling centers, bingo parlors and private homes are exempt. The county’s responsibility to investigate complaints would stop if tobacco tax revenue dries up and the two education positions were no longer funded, Slack added. Commissioners didn’t discuss the issue before adopting the agreement. Ric Holt and Jack Walker have been under fire recently for comments regarding their view of a county-employed "smoke cop" who would seek out smokers in private businesses if enforcement jurisdiction was switched from the state to the county. Commissioner Sue Kupillas supported the idea. But Walker and Holt both said prior to the meeting they supported the agreement since it put the enforcement back with the state. 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 web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S