The Greenwood City Council is preparing to adopt at its July 17 meeting a sweeping anti-smoking ordinance that would bar indoor smoking in the city's bars, restaurants and other public places.
City Attorney James Littleton has been asked by council members to finalize an ordinance in resolution form so that the council may vote on it at the council's next meeting.
As required by law, the council will hold a public hearing on the proposed smoking ban at 5 p.m. Monday, July 16, in the City Council's chambers in City Hall.
At that time, members of the public will be allowed to voice their opinion - either pro or con - on the proposed ordinance.
On Tuesday afternoon, all council members, excluding Ward 5's Tennill Cannon, who was absent, voted to proceed with the anti-smoking resolution.
Pann Powers, a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, spoke during the public agenda phase of Tuesday's meeting.
She praised the council for taking action to stop smoking.
"We now have proof positive that smoking is not only harmful for those that smoke but also those that are subjected to the secondhand smoke. I can speak to that firsthand," she said.
"My father was a heavy smoker; he died of emphysema and heart problems associated with smoking. My mother was not a smoker, but she lived with a smoker for 50 years and she died of cancer."
In addition, Powers said cancer caused by smoking ultimately claimed the lives of her brother, mother-in-law and father-in-law.
"I know what secondhand smoke can do to families. There's probably not a person in this room that not been touched by cancer or heart disease or respiratory problems. What you do in the future can certainly impact the quality of life of the people in our community," Powers said.
Ward 1's Johnny Jennings, who initially proposed an anti-smoking ordinance, said Greenwood is joining a growing number of cities in the state, including Hattiesburg and Starkville, which have severely restricted smoking in public places in the last few months.
Jennings said about 75 percent of the public does not smoke. He said he felt the majority of residents in Greenwood need to be heard from on the subject.
Ward 7's Taylor Dillard, who successfully kicked cigarettes six years ago, said he fully supported the anti-smoking ordinance.
David Jordan, the council's president, also supported the measure. "We know that smoking kills. We also know that it can ruin a good meal."
