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Public health advocates and residents clash over cigar-lounge exemption as commissioners approve ordinance
Summary
Public commenters and health advocates urged commissioners to reconsider an exemption for cigar lounges; the board approved Ordinance 26-03 in a recorded vote despite opposition from the Tobacco-Free Coalition and local health voices.
At the April 6 Delaware County commissioners meeting, a proposed amendment to the county smoking ordinance to allow a cigar-lounge exemption drew sustained public comment and sharp disagreement before the board approved the ordinance on its second reading.
Jordan Moss, director of the Tobacco-Free Coalition and a Delaware County resident, told commissioners he had not found community support for the change and said his group collected more than 30 petition signatures opposing the exemption. "I have not found a single person in favor of this amendment," Moss said, adding that the county faces an estimated $36 million in economic costs from secondhand smoke-related illness.
Cheryl Swingland, who said she helped initiate no-smoking policies at Ball Hospital, told the board the change is a step backward for community health and warned the exemption could open the door to other requests for exceptions, such as hookah bars. "I think this is a real step backward for the health of our community," she said.
Supporters spoke in favor of the exemption during public comment. Don Chambers, superintendent of maintenance and a veteran, framed the issue as a matter of individual choice: "If you don't want to go there, don't go there," he said.
Staff and some commissioners defended the outreach process. Staff said they had received "well over a 100 pieces of feedback" and described much of that input as supportive. Commissioners debated an operative detail drawn from state law: that a cigar-lounge classification requires at least 20% of a lounge's annual gross income be from sales or on-site humidor rental, which the county's proposed language tracks.
Despite the public objections, a motion to approve Ordinance 26-03 passed on roll call with two commissioners voting yes and one voting no. The ordinance will take effect per the schedule noted in county code and is now in force unless further action is taken at a subsequent meeting.
Why it matters: The change alters how indoor smoking rules are applied to a specific category of business and drew clearly divided public opinion. County public-health outcomes, business licensing, and future exemption requests could be affected by how the ordinance is implemented.
What’s next: Commissioners did not indicate a plan to revisit the ordinance; health advocates may pursue outreach or petition efforts outside the commission process.
