|
- Commissioners consider county-wide smoke free policy
|
By Rebecca Dopp
Times-News Correspondent
Pam Goodrich, health educator with Central Utah Public Health Department, came before the county commissioners to discuss and present a draft county-wide smoke free policy.
"Mike Seely, [county administrator], asked if I would put together a draft copy," she said.
She had copies of Utah County and Wasatch County's policies regarding this matter for the commissioners to take a look at.
Some of the things the county would need to cover in the policy are where to designate areas that would be smoke free and designate areas where smoking would be allowed.
She gave an example of an event held in Tooele County where the event promoter did not follow the county's smoke free policy and allowed people to smoke during the event. A boy from Millard County had a severe asthma attack due to second-hand smoke which could have been prevented if the promoter had followed the policy. Because the county had a policy, they would not be held liable for what happened, the promoter would be liable.
"If you have a policy in place, then that covers you," she said.
She was under the impression that the arena at the fairgrounds was a smoke-free zone, but that the rest of the fairgrounds were not. She asked about Yuba and Little Sahara, but commissioners said both are under the jurisdiction of the state parks. Burraston Ponds is also a state recreational area. Mona Reservoir is under county jurisdiction.
Rick Carlton, commissioner, asked if the policies from Utah County and Wasatch County addressed e-cigarettes. In Utah County's policy, it defines what types of smoking equipment would be prohibited and she thought that would cover e-cigarettes. In the draft policy she presented, she specifically stated what would be included under e-cigarettes.
Chad Winn, commission chairman, said they would take some time to look over the draft and make changes if necessary.
|
