Scottville planning commission to discuss downtown smoking

 SCOTTVILLE – The Scottville Planning Commission will discuss smoking in downtown when it meets next week. The topic was placed on the agenda after a downtown merchant addressed City Commission last week.

Linda Holden, co-owner of Holden’s Home Emporium, told city commissioners that there are some bad smoking habits downtown “and it does not make the town look very good.” Holden suggested the city regulate smoking in the downtown area.

City Manager Amy Williams said because the topic was brought up in a public meeting she felt it was appropriate to allow the planning commission to discuss it. She said it will also probably be discussed by the Main Street Board, which oversees downtown issues.

“I haven’t really noticed a problem myself,” Williams said. “I’m not really sure how we would be able to regulate smoking downtown. I know that we don’t have the resources with our police department to enforce any ordinances that would ban smoking downtown.”

Williams said she thinks the issue isn’t necessarily that downtown patrons are over zealous with their smoking as much as some business employees smoking outside the front entrances of their stores. She said she will most likely recommend the Main Street Board send out notices to business owners suggesting they ask their employees smoke in the back of the buildings rather than the front.

“We need to find out how the other business owners feel about this,” Williams said. “It has merit to look into it, but it’s really up to the business community to find a solution.”

The planning commission meets Tuesday, Oct. 8, 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 105 N. Main St.