Salina Journal News: Parkinson to sign copy of state smoking bill in Salina

Parkinson to sign copy of state smoking bill in Salina

3/8/2010
MICHAEL STRAND

When Salina’s first ban on smoking in restaurants went into effect in 2002, such laws were relatively rare.
Since then, however, smoking bans have become more widespread and have grown to cover far more than just restaurants.
In recognition of the city’s role in smoking bans, Gov. Mark Parkinson will come to Salina to sign a copy of the state’s new smoking ban at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
“We were the first to get a clean indoor air ordinance in the state,” said Del Myers, health education supervisor for the Salina-Saline County Health Department. “We kind of got the ball rolling.”
Myers said Salina’s initial ordinance, which banned smoking in restaurants, “wasn’t ideal,” but noted it was updated this past May to ban smoking in nearly all public places.
Myers said that, weather permitting, Gov. Parkinson will sign a copy of the new law on the plaza between the Salina Public Library and the City-County Building; in case of bad weather, the ceremony will be moved to the health department.