Board: Further research needed on smoking ban

By Samantha Edmondson For the News Tribune

The Osage Beach board of aldermen decided Thursday to do further research before moving forward on a possible smoking ban.

"Ultimately, direction to the staff was to conduct more research and that the board members would submit questions to me to be researched," said Nancy Viselli, Osage Beach City Administrator following the meeting. "So I should be getting more questions within the next few weeks and will be conducting further research to present to the Board."

During the resident communications portion of Thursday's board of aldermen meeting, five business owners spoke against any type of ban, indicating it should be the responsibility of the business owner to make that decision, Viselli said.

When it came time for the aldermen to discuss the topic, Alderman Steve Kahrs reiterated prior comments made at the public forum and in agreement with the business owners who commented at Thursday's meeting, saying the city needs to keep government out of these decisions.

Alderman Lois Farmer agreed the decision should be up to the business owners after hearing from those in attendance at Thursday's meeting. Alderman Kevin Rucker said he still had a lot of questions and wanted to continue to move forward but wanted more research. Alderman John Olivarri noted that while he heard from "one" side for the discussion during the meeting, he felt the board didn't get to hear from people who weren't there. He agreed with Rucker and wanted to move forward and have more information and questions answered.

Viselli said Alderman Ron Schmitt, who was absent during the meeting, did send an e-mail indicating he thought the matter should just go to a vote of the people.

In follow-up from a public forum about a possible smoking ban in Osage Beach held on May 12, a survey was developed to get input on whether residents, business owners and visitors would like Osage Beach to implement a smoking ban.

According to a press release issued by Viselli, there were 1,455 surveys completed online and 54 surveys completed manually.

The majority of surveys filled out supported laws making indoors areas of restaurants and bars smoke-free.

The full survey results are available at www.osagebeach.org.