GF Smoking Ban Closer To City-Wide Vote

A smoking ban in Grand Forks is a little closer to going to a city-wide vote.

Tonight the council continued its discussion as an effort to meet the deadline for a June 11th election.

Some council members feel a city-wide advisory vote should be the way the issue is decided.

In order to get the issue on the ballot, the county auditor would have to receive the details before April 11th. At least four council members must approve the advisory vote before it would be on a ballot.

Doug Christensen / Grand Forks City Council Member: "This would be an advisory vote of the people. They would tell us whether they want us to approved or not. They ordinance, would be an advisory vote so we would ask the citizens how they feel, feel up or down."

After hearing the results of a survey that showed strong support for a smoking ban, council members appeared ready to vote themselves for the ordinance.

But some have questioned now whether smokers were accurately represented in that survey done by the Tobacco-Free Coalition.

Also at tonight's meeting, long-time council member Art Bakken announced he will not run for another term in Ward 6.

Tags: smoking ban, grand forks, vote