Clearing the air

Local Clean Air Coalition chief Jerry Campbell said some of the people who support a smoking ban were irritated by city commissioners, he doubts that any of them retaliated by reporting the possible violation of state open meeting laws.
At a meeting in early May, three commissioners attended a public forum on the potential smoking ban in Arkansas City.
Commissioner Mell Kuhn called the material presented "propaganda" and questioned whether second hand smoke was a real health hazard.
Commissioner Dotty Smith said she did not think the city commission should decide the issue, but she said she would prefer that the people of Arkansas City decide the issue at the ballot box.
"He (Kuhn) came in combative, and Dotty (Smith) didn't help matters," Campbell said today.
Later a citizen filed a complaint that the open meetings laws may have been violated because Smith appeared to speak for the commission. She later said she was not speaking for the commission.
Campbell said he and his group are trying to establish a working relationship with the city.
He said that while he and some members of the group were irritated, he does not think any of them reported the violation. he said he heard that there may have been a violation later.
"There was some grandstanding going on," he said.
The group may seek a referendum on a smoking ban in public places at some point in the future.