Clay County delays enforcement of tobacco ordinance to June 1 after commissioners raise process and outreach concerns

The Clay County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 14 to delay enforcement of a recently adopted tobacco ordinance until June 1 and asked public health staff to contact affected merchants about the revised timeline.

The action came after more than an hour of discussion during which several commissioners said they wanted more time to review the ordinance language, to see a redline comparison with the prior code and to allow county staff to notify local businesses after an earlier implementation date had circulated in local media.

Commissioner Baer, who asked that the item be returned to the board for discussion, said he was uneasy about how the ordinance came before the full board and the timing of the Dec. 17 vote. "I guess I have questions pertaining to this on how it all came to the board," Baer said during the meeting, and he asked whether the board had received a redline version showing the changes. Baer also said he had heard staff had set an April 1 implementation date and that businesses needed more certainty.

Public health staff told…