Staff Writer
Globe Staff Writer
WEBB CITY, Mo. —
The City Council has joined the debate on whether to ban indoor smoking in public places.
Following a push by Smoke-Free Webb City, a local coalition that is partially funded by Missouri Foundation for Health, the council voted 6-2 on Monday to allow a ban on smoking to be brought before the public as either an ordinance or through a public hearing.
Council members already seemed split on the issue of whether to ban smoking in places such as restaurants. Councilman Brandon Wilson was one of the most vocal opponents to the proposed measure.
“Honestly I feel like it should be up to the individual business owner to run their business as they see fit,” he said.
Other council members, including Don Darby, showed support for the measure. Darby said he was “definitely” in favor of such an ordinance, likening it to the state law that makes wearing a seatbelt mandatory.
“I know for a fact that lives will be saved if we put this smoke ban in operation,” he said.
In other business Monday, the council approved a 2-cent property tax increase for this year, raising its levy to 72.77 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The owner of a $100,000 house will pay about $138 in taxes this year.
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