Going up in SMOKE

Local tavern owners are encouraged to gather signatures against the proposed smoking ban.

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The first meeting of the Sauk Valley Area Licensed Beverage Association was convened, appropriately enough, in a smoky bar room. Gathering on high stools around cocktail tables, about 15 bar and restaurant owners from Sterling, Rock Falls and Morrison came together Monday to strategize against a movement by the Lee and Whiteside County health departments to snuff out smoking in public places. Both departments have passed nonbinding resolutions calling for a ban. "We initially got together over the issue of smoking bans," said Mike Scanlan, owner of The Depot in Sterling and association president. "It is quite obvious to us that the majority of our customers are smokers." Tavern owners say kicking smokers outside will devastate their businesses. "If there were a smoking ban, I think I would lose at least 40 to 50 percent of my business," said Denny Strader, owner of Champs in Sterling. "I think the smokers would just stay in and have house parties if they can't come out and smoke." There may be some basis for Strader's concerns. According to the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association, bars in Springfield and unincorporated Sangamon County have seen a 25 percent to 50 percent decline in business since a public smoking ban took effect this year. "I would probably think (a smoking ban) would shut us down," said Shane Gallentine, owner of KJ's Bar and Grill in Morrison. "Most of my customers are smokers, and I don't think they would come in if they can't smoke, particularly in the winter." There are nonsmoking options in the area - the Starlight Theatre and Lounge in Sterling, for example, is a smoke-free establishment, Strader said. With such options available, the government has no business interfering with his business, he said. "... I don't understand how they can ban something that is perfectly legal to do." The health departments plan to pursue a smoking ordinance at the county level, and to get city councils on board as well, said Beth Fiorini, director of the Whiteside County agency. Such an ordinance would not be an anti-business proposition, though - there is evidence bars and restaurants have seen increased business when smoking is banned, she said. Fiorini is organizing a meeting of county mayors and city administrators in January to discuss the issue and state her health department's case for an ordinance. "This is a process that will take awhile. I think everybody needs to be educated. I am going to trust that the county board is smart enough to wait and hear everything before they make any decisions," Fiorini said. That is a course of action Sterling Mayor Ted Aggen favors. "I have no feeling of which way it would go from the six aldermen on the council," Aggen said. "I'm torn on this issue. This country was founded on free enterprise. Don't I have any right as a taxpayer to say what my business will be?" Any decision made by the Sterling City Council would not come until after a period of careful study and education on the topic from both sides of the issue, he added. The beverage association is taking its case to the Whiteside County Board next month. "We want them to understand that in Sterling and Rock Falls alone, we have 500 employees in the restaurant business. If we lose 30 percent of our business, we lose 30 percent of our work force," Scanlan said. "It is a few people here and there, but it adds up." Although Lee and Whiteside County health departments worked together to pass resolutions against smoking in public places, Cathy Ferguson, director of the Lee County agency, is less convinced an ordinance would pass in Lee County. "I couldn't even get the grounds of the county Public Safety Building to be smoke-free," Ferguson said, adding that the county board only approved a 50-foot smoking buffer zone around entrances to the building. "I think the intent of my health board is just to go on record of being in favor of this sort of thing. We will help advocate a statewide ordinance, which is the only truly fair way to do it," Ferguson said. "We want them to understand that in Sterling and Rock Falls alone, we have 500 employees in the restaurant business. If we lose 30 percent of our business, we lose 30 percent of our work force. It is a few people here and there, but it adds up." - Mike Scanlan, owner of The Depot in Sterling * * * "This is a process that will take awhile. I think everybody needs to be educated. I am going to trust that the county board is smart enough to wait and hear everything before they make any decisions." - Beth Fiorini, director, Whiteside County Health Department Reach Andrew Walters at 625-3600, 284-2222 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 522.