Olathe approves smoking ban / LJWorld.com

Archive for Thursday, August 17, 2006

The Associated Press

August 17, 2006

Olathe — The Olathe City Council has voted to outlaw smoking in most public places, making the Johnson County seat the largest Kansas community so far to adopt a ban and pushing Kansas City, Mo., closer to restricting smoking in bars and restaurants.

Approved on a 6-1 vote Tuesday night, Olathe's ordinance contains exemptions for fraternal organizations and private, for-profit clubs in the city of more than 105,00 residents. More than 200 restaurants will be affected when the ban takes effect sometime later this year.

Establishments that allow smoking will face a $50 fine for the first offense, with increasing fines for subsequent offenses.

The vote follows a trend begun in Kansas two years ago when Lawrence banned smoking in public areas.

Kansas City, Mo., later implemented its own ban - but exempted bars and restaurants until 85 percent of the bistate region's population is covered by laws restricting smoking.

Only Mission Woods, Roeland Park and Fairway in Johnson County have passed bans since then. But they have small populations and few restaurants and bars.

To the east, the Jackson County, Mo., community of Lee's Summit adopted a ban last week. But a tobacco shop and some taverns that make less than 10 percent of their revenue from food were exempted, meaning Lee's Summit's population of 90,000 won't be included in the calculation that would trigger Kansas City's ban.

Edward Hayes, president of Big Sky Hospitality LLC, which operates O'Shay's Sports Pub and Grille in Olathe, estimated he would lose 30 percent of his revenue if Olathe residents go to neighboring cities to drink.

But Ken Davis, former mayor of the small Johnson County town of Countryside, supports smoking bans and predicted more area towns would follow Olathe's action.

Overland Park, with about 160,000 residents, is Johnson County's largest city. The City Council there will discuss the issue next month. Council President Terry Goodman plans to push for temporary exemptions for restaurants and bars that have installed smoke-filtering systems within the past two years.