The city of Holts Summit continued to discuss a non-smoking ordinance Thursday at a Board of Alderman meeting.
The proposed ordinance, which was only up for discussion and still has not been voted on, has been a debated issue for several months and would ban smoking in public spaces except in designated smoking areas. The ordinance would also give businesses the decision to become smoking or non-smoking.
City Administrator Rick Hess said he worked on the ordinance with the goal of making it something all sides can agree on. Hess added the ordinance should not be a city-wide ban, but it should allow non-smokers to easily be able to avoid smoke. It was also important, Hess said, to give businesses the ability to choose.
"It's hard to appease everyone," Hess said.
Alderman Thomas Durham said he wanted to make sure the designated areas for smoking were placed so parents who smoke are still able to supervise their children while at a park.
The ordinance would not prevent Holts Summit from creating larger designated areas during special events like the Fourth of July fireworks display.
Landon Oxley, Holts Summit mayor, reiterated several times the ordinance would not infringe on a private business's ability to allow smoking.
"We're just trying to help the businesses make their own decision," Oxley said.
The ordinance's next steps were not determined at the meeting.
The board did approve several ordinances and resolutions at the meeting, including a resolution to approve a loan guarantee for a project to renovate a building for a potential library branch in Holts Summit.
Marty Wilson presented on the progress of bringing a library to Holts Summit. Wilson said a loan was possible through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but the city would have to cosign.
One ordinance which passed will now allow Callabyte Service to provide high speed internet to the community.
The city also approved an amendment to the rules surrounding sign postings in Holts Summit, establishing size and time limits on signs within the city's limits.
The board voted to allow the purchase of one vehicle for the Holts Summit Police Department and gave vocal permission for the purchase of another one to be approved at a future meeting. Both vehicles are to replace older models that are becoming too expensive to maintain.