Will Kentucky Supreme Court Ruling Question Smoking Bans?
That ban was issued by the county’s health department and not the fiscal court–the same way Woodford, Madison and Clark County smoking bans were decided.
Nelson Goodman’s lived in Kentucky most his life and recently made a trip to Midway in Woodford County.
Just like three in ten people in t he bluegrass, he uses tobacco.
"I still smoke. I do go outside away from the home," said Goodman.
At dinnertime on Main Street in it was no different, something his family appreciates.
"I don’t mind people smoking, but I don’t want to breathe their smoke," said Arnold Zegart, who is cousins with Goodman through marriage.
Their family already knows their pattern, but potentially Woodford, Clark and Madison counties could see changes.
"The Clean Indoor Air regulations are similar in nature to the Bullitt County Board of Health regulations. In light of that ruling, they are no longer enforceable," said Alan George, Woodford County Attorney.
But in Midway in Woodford County, the ban has been going on for six years.
"There was definitely an uproar," said Grayson Vandegrift, a restaurant owner in the town. "A lot of businesses in the county said it was going to affect their business."
Vandegrift said even if he can allow smoking, he’s not making any changes at his restaurant.
"In this day and age, I think its become accepted not smoking inside in a public place," said Vandegrift.
Something Nelson Goodman also knows, all too well.
"There’s a word… If i don’t smoke outside at home. It’s divorce, and i don’t want that," said Goodman.
The Woodford County Attorney said if a restaurant or bar wants to allow smoking it’d be up to them, and that it’s likely to be the same in Madison and Clark counties.
Madison County’s Judge Executive said before he’d comment, he’d have to talk to the county attorney and magistrates and see the Supreme Court ruling.
So far, there has been no comment so far from Clark County officials.
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