Horry officials to consider ordinance making county properties tobacco free

Published: Nov. 22, 2017 at 6:49 PM EST|Updated: Nov. 28, 2017 at 6:17 PM EST
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

CONWAY, SC (WMBF) – Horry County leaders are considering making all county property tobacco free.

On the agenda for the Nov. 29 fall retreat is the first reading of an ordinance to make Horry County property tobacco free and to establish penalties for those who are in violation.

The Horry County Council must approve three readings of an ordinance before it becomes official policy.

According to the proposed ordinance, the use of tobacco is "detrimental to the health of employees and members of the public utilizing county government facilities."

If ultimately passed, the ordinance would prohibit the use of tobacco products, which includes electronic smoking devices, at all county buildings, offices, entryways, decks, patios and exits, parking lots, common areas, outside stairways, and parks and recreation areas.  The ordinance excludes beaches, beach accesses and the Myrtle Beach International Airport.

Scott Puckett is the Horry County Wellness Committee chair, and created the ordinance with a Coastal Carolina University intern last year, he told WMBF News.  He said smoking has long-term effects on not only the smoker, but also to the people around the smoker.  With cities within Horry County already years into it's own smoking bans, Puckett said it's time Horry County creates it's own.

"This is not new.  This is something that's been coming for a long time, and I think it's important for us as citizens of Horry County to embrace it, and appreciate that as a government, we're taking steps to help all.  This isn't something that's going to alienate any particular person.  I understand that smokers are going to have a derogatory view of this.  The fact of the matter is that we understand smoking is an addiction," Puckett said.

Pucket said it's specifically aimed to encourage county employees to stop smoking and to decrease smoke around county campuses.

He said overtime, he believes it will decrease healthcare costs. The county spokesperson said the ordinance would not have any effect on employee health insurance premiums, but employees who choose to no longer smoke will forego his or her surcharge as part of the state healthcare plan.

Pucket said the ordinance is to help, but infringe on personal rights.  "I think that's very important to understand.  That it's not about taking away or controlling people, taking away rights or controlling people, it's about helping people.  Overall everyone is going to be effecting in a positive way by this," he said.

Anyone in violation would receive a fine between $10 and $25, according to the proposed ordinance.

County employees found to be in violation would be subject to corrective action up to and including termination.

Copyright 2017 WMBF News. All rights reserved.