Hays ? City commissioners have reached a deal on an ordinance that would restrict smoking in restaurants, retail stores and bowling alleys.

The ordinance would ban smoking in all Hays restaurants unless there is an enclosed, separate area for smokers. That area would have to have a separate ventilation system.

Bars and other nonservice businesses would not be included in the ordinance. Smoking could be permitted in accounting offices, banks or insurance offices, for example.

Commissioners will next discuss the ordinance at a work session on Feb. 19. If commissioners back it, the ordinance could be placed on the meeting agenda for formal approval on Feb. 26.

Commissioners had been at odds over whether to ban smoking in nonservice industry settings as well.

“It appears the community as a whole would like a smoking ordinance,” Commissioner Wayne Billinger said.

But Commissioner Henry Schwaller IV argued that people do not have to go into businesses that allow smoking.

“I hate smoking,” he said. “I don’t want to be anywhere near it, but unfortunately there are some people who own businesses who want to smoke. I can’t justify stopping them.”