Following the direction that voters laid out via an advisory vote last week, the Kennett City Council passed a sweeping smoking ban on Wednesday by an 8-1 vote. On April 9, voters were asked to provide guidance to the council via an advisory election, with the proposed ordinance getting 68% percent of the small turnout, which was estimated at approximately 10% of the electorate. With the council passing the ordinance, smoking is now prohibited in enclosed public places, places of employment, private clubs, and within five feet of outside entrances, operable windows and ventilation systems of enclosed areas where smoking is prohibited. The ban does provide for exemptions for places where more than 50 percent of the business deals in tobacco sales. Private residences that are not used as a child, adult or health care facility are also exempted, as are outdoor places of employment and bars and taverns that have licenses held by a charitable, religious, or veteran’s organization. Kennett is located in the bootheel of Missouri, 210 miles south of St. Louis and 110 miles northwest of Memphis, Tenn. It is home to just under 11,000 residents.
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