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Published: 2/2/2010 | Updated: 2/10/2010
HANNIBAL, Mo. — On a 4-3 vote, the Hannibal City Council upheld the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board to make the Admiral Coontz Armory a smoke-free environment.
Council members Jason Janes, Kevin Knickerbocker and Barry Louderman voted against the measure, with Mayor Roy Hark, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Behymer, Louis Barta and Jeff Lyng voting for it.
“We’re very pleased,” said Chris Atkinson, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “Now we can begin work on making the building smoke free as of July 1. We can be a leader in the community (on a move to make more of Hannibal’s buildings smoke free).”
The vote removes the provision that entities that rent the armory have the option to allow smoking. Smoking was already banned at city-sponsored events there. The ban goes into effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year and does not affect groups that had already contracted to rent the armory through this year.
But smoking will not be allowed at events next year, including several popular activities sponsored by the Jaycees, such as the Wing Ding and Chili Cook-off.
The measure sparked a lengthy debate among council members.
“To me, it wasn’t a vote about smoking,” said Knickerbocker, a member of the Jaycees. “I’m a non-smoker and I’ll probably enjoy the events more now. But I don’t believe in government regulation of personal choices.”
Atkinson reassured the council that if events are not rescheduled next year, the Parks and Recreation Department will not lose money. The armory breaks even, billing for what is spent in overtime employee costs, he said. On the other hand, he said, in the years that he’s been in Hannibal, he’s always heard complaints about second-hand smoke in the place people go to get exercise.
The armory hosts walkers and athletic teams sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department. It’s their only indoor facility, and the only building large enough to host citywide events.
Hark said he waited until he heard what council members had to say before deciding which way he would vote. In the end, his decision broke a tie.
“It looked like to me it needs to be smoke-free,” he said. ”I feel like if you want to go down there and you don’t smoke (you won’t stay). People who are down there and smoke can step outside.”
Dana Blase with the American Cancer Society called the vote a “barometer.” She predicted that the Jaycees would pleasantly surprised at how the smoking ban affects their attendance.
— hwagner@whig.com/221-3374
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