Smoking Ban Scheduled to be Discussed at Tuesday Work Session

A city official says several Casper City Council members want sections of the city’s controversial public indoor smoking ban to be amended.

Ward I councilman Steve Hopkins outlined a series of possible amendments to the ordinance prior to council’s regular meeting on Tuesday. However, Casper mayor Kenyne Schlager says council is still considering repealing the ban altogether.

“I think council still has three choices: Repeal the ban, keep it the way it is or modify it,” Schlager said. “The sense that I’m getting at this point is that there’s a majority that wants to look at modifying it, however, if we make too many modifications, then, I think, repealing the ordinance will be a little more appealing.”

In February, both Schlager and councilman Charlie Powell said they were in favor of keeping the ban as it is. Councilmen Daniel Sandoval, Craig Hedquist, Paul Bertoglio, Paul Meyer, Steve Cathey, Keith Goodenough and Bob Hopkins said they were in favor of either repealing or amending the ban.

Several Casper business owners in the hospitality and manufacturing industries say, since the ban went into effect last September, they’ve seen significant revenue and productivity declines.

Council is slated to further discuss the ban at its Tuesday work session.