Holts Summit board discusses smoking regulations

The sign outside Holts Summit City Hall at 213 South Summit Drive is shown above.
The sign outside Holts Summit City Hall at 213 South Summit Drive is shown above.

HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. - The rezoning of two trailer parks within Holts Summit city limits was nixed earlier this month after receiving pushback from several residents and the parks' owners during a May 11 Board of Alderman meeting.

While the issue may be settled, a discussion on notifying the public was had at Thursday's meeting.

"I think there is a moral responsibility to inform the park's residents," Todd Rowell, a Holts Summit resident, said.

Legally, Holts Summit performed its duty by informing the park's landowners of the rezoning, City Attorney David Bandré said, but going forward, he added, the city could always do more.

"I would encourage the board to go a step further and explore what our ability is in informing the public," he said. "I would also consider developing a concrete policy so that we treat everyone in the same classification the same."

Mayor Landon Oxley said the board would start exploring the issue.

All other proposed rezonings passed unanimously and without comment.

In other business, the aldermen Thursday discussed the issue of smoking on city property.

"At the last meeting, smoking on city property and in its parks was brought up," City Administrator Rick Hess said. "I thought that it was definitely a matter worth kicking around."

During the Board of Alderman meeting May 11, Rowell brought his daughter, Faith, before the board and asked them to consider her health.

"Everywhere we go, there is cigarette smoke," he said at the May 11 meeting. "I think we should have a right to clean air in public places. My daughter should not have to breathe it. My daughter's right to clean air surpasses your right to smoke."

Alderman Charles Chamberlin asked if making city property smoke free would be something that requires action by the board.

"I don't want the police on cigarette butt patrol," he said. "I think a simple sign would do 99 percent of the job."

The board agreed the city should consider creating designated smoking areas at the city parks with receptacles for cigarette butts and signs indicating where smoking would be permitted.