On Tuesday the Hancock County, WV County Board of Health is set to vote on a smoking ban that the can cost the county’s largest employer 20 percent of its business.
Mountaineer Casino which has a staff of 1,300 has opposed the proposed smoking ban at every public meeting over the past year. The casino is minutes from the state line and a short distance from casino’s with no smoking bands.
The proposal, previously approved in draft form, would eliminate smoking in all public indoor areas and some outdoor areas. It would mandate that smoking areas must be at least 20 feet from an entrance.
Despite the casino and its workers being critical of the proposed ban, the health board has stated it must keep all residents in mind.
The meeting of the five-member health board is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in New Cumberland.
Hancock County is home to 30,000 residents.
Update: With a unanimous 5-0 vote, the Hancock County Board of Health on Tuesday passed the Clean Air Regulation Act of 2014, effective July 1, 2015.
