Fiscal Court considers smoke free buildings
Jelaine Harlow from the Lake Cumberland District Health Department in Adair County spoke to the fiscal court on Tuesday about makeing all county buildings smoke free.
Jelaine Harlow from the Lake Cumberland District Health Department in Adair County went to the fiscal court at its meeting on Tuesday asking them if they
would consider making all county buildings smoke free.
While many of the counties in the state have gone completely smoke free, Harlow is only asking the court to consider county buildings.
“It would be a huge thing in our community,” Harlow said. “It would be a good start.”
Harlow said that public buildings that allow smoking are troublesome to visitors who have asthma or other problems where the smoke causes difficulties.
“I’ve had a lot of people ask me ‘can you help with the annex,’” Harlow said.
Some offices in the annex allow smoking.
“They have to come into the clerk’s office. They have to come into the judge’s office,” Harlow said. “They don’t have a choice.”
However, it is not just the annex.
“I suggested that we do all county buildings,” said Ann Melton, Adair County Judge Executive. “We can’t just do one.”
District three magistrate Sammy Baker asked about how many counties in the area were smoke free.
“They are (smoke free) in a lot of counties,” Harlow said.
Harlow also said that health insurance is higher if a building isn’t smoke free.
District six magistrate Joe Rogers asked if buildings that have gone smoke free have provided a place for smokers to go.
“A gazebo would be a good idea or a bench,” Harlow said.
McDonalds has gone smoke free and have placed a gazebo near the building for employees to go when they need to smoke.
“Most people who smoke don’t mind it because when you are in a smoke free building you don’t smoke as much,” Harlow said.
Melton and other employees have discussed going smoke free in just in the judge’s office.
“We have discussed trying to start July 1,” Melton said. “We’re trying to do that on our own.”
Melton asked Harlow to give the court a month or two to study the suggested and they would get back to her.
By Allison Hollon
allison@accvonline.com
