DECATUR, A: -
Almost exactly two years after Decatur banned smoking completely, a new smoking ordinance is on the table. This one gives restaurant and bar owners the choice of whether or not to allow patrons to smoke.
At Tony's Country Cooking Restaurant you'll find a smile with your service, but you won't find an ashtray, at least not right now.
Larry Daly enjoys smoking outside Tony's Country Cooking on days like this one.
"If it were winter time, I wouldn't come out here," said Daly. "I would stay at home. That's how people are losing revenue. I'd stay at home, or I'd go elsewhere. Because if the weather's bad, I'm not going to sit out here and smoke."
Daly hopes the Decatur City Council has a change of heart and approves a new smoking ordinance.
Felicia Moody owns Tony's Country Cooking and has fought the current smoking ordinance tooth and nail.
"If it passes, we're going to bring our smoking back," said Moody.
However, she understands why there are smoking ordinances.
"For some people, it wasn't about the smoking, it was about the lost rights," said Moody.
Moody just wants an even playing field.
"There is a reason for an ordinance. We just want one that's more fair like Huntsville, Florence and Madison that gives business owners the choice and the rights to choose, the public the right to choose where they spend their money," said Moody.
Decatur City Councilman Gary Hammon proposed the new smoking ordinance, which will require businesses to announce they're a smoking establishment with four-inch letters in red and white.
"I'm going to be called son of Satan and everything else for about a week and a half, and thereafter," said Hammon. "To me, it's a business issue, apparently some people see it as a moral issue. I do not see it as a moral issue. I've never heard of a man having one too many cigars and then going out and getting in his car and killing a family of five."
Businesses will also have to hang no smoking signs with this new ordinance.
The Decatur City Council plans to vote on the new smoking ordinance at Monday morning's meeting. It's scheduled for 10:00am.
At Tony's Country Cooking Restaurant you'll find a smile with your service, but you won't find an ashtray, at least not right now.
Larry Daly enjoys smoking outside Tony's Country Cooking on days like this one.
"If it were winter time, I wouldn't come out here," said Daly. "I would stay at home. That's how people are losing revenue. I'd stay at home, or I'd go elsewhere. Because if the weather's bad, I'm not going to sit out here and smoke."
Daly hopes the Decatur City Council has a change of heart and approves a new smoking ordinance.
Felicia Moody owns Tony's Country Cooking and has fought the current smoking ordinance tooth and nail.
"If it passes, we're going to bring our smoking back," said Moody.
However, she understands why there are smoking ordinances.
"For some people, it wasn't about the smoking, it was about the lost rights," said Moody.
Moody just wants an even playing field.
"There is a reason for an ordinance. We just want one that's more fair like Huntsville, Florence and Madison that gives business owners the choice and the rights to choose, the public the right to choose where they spend their money," said Moody.
Decatur City Councilman Gary Hammon proposed the new smoking ordinance, which will require businesses to announce they're a smoking establishment with four-inch letters in red and white.
"I'm going to be called son of Satan and everything else for about a week and a half, and thereafter," said Hammon. "To me, it's a business issue, apparently some people see it as a moral issue. I do not see it as a moral issue. I've never heard of a man having one too many cigars and then going out and getting in his car and killing a family of five."
Businesses will also have to hang no smoking signs with this new ordinance.
The Decatur City Council plans to vote on the new smoking ordinance at Monday morning's meeting. It's scheduled for 10:00am.
