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By Carol Arnett

North County residents along with all of St. Louis County  will be asked to vote on two health related  propositions on Nov.  3. Florissant residents will also vote on a third proposition calling for business license fee increase,

Proposition E-911

In the first county-wide proposition, Proposition E-911, on the ballot, county  residents will vote on whether St. Louis County  should establish an emergency communications system fund to establish, operate and maintain an emergency communications system. To maintain the system, the county would levy a one tenth of one percent sales tax.

Proponents of the proposition, which includes almost all the fire districts, point out that the current county system is outdated. Federal law mandates that all systems be updated by 2012. The updates would enable the county to link all emergency responders. The Florissant City Council passed a resolution supporting the proposition and the City of Hazelwood and North County Inc.  also supports the proposition..

Proposition N

(Smoking Ban)

The second countywide proposition is Proposition N, which would restrict smoking in enclosed public spaces in the county. Although the proposal is not being supported by some health organizations, including the American Cancer Society, for not being stringent enough, other anti-smoking groups support it.  The proponents are led by a mixed group of citizens and health-related professionals called County Citizens for Cleaner Air. They are uging voters to cast a “yes” vote for the “indoor clean air code” as they call it and “make the healthy choice.”

Despite not getting a ringing endorsement from the big three organizations, the March of Dimes is supporting it.  The St. Louis-based Tobacco-Free Missouri Greater St. Louis coalition, cannot support or oppose an ordinance due to its 501(C)3 status, but the members are educating the public to make an informed decision via their website at www.tobaccofreemo.org.

The proposal would exempt bars with no more than 25% sales of food and soft drinks, estimated to be around 65-70 such establishments.  The casino floor at Harrah’s and at the new Lemay casino when it opens would also be exempt.  Proponents say that even a bill with exemptions would be good for persons with respiratory illnesses and restaurant workers and say it’s a step in the right direction.

In a further twist, the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen has voted to enact an ordinance in the city if the county ordinance passes.  But the city bill would allow  bars up to 2,000 square feet to be exempt for five years.  Casino floors would also be exempt. The state of Illinois already has a state-wide ban on smoking in indoor spaces

Most of the opposition has come from some bar and restaurant owners and bowling alley proprietors who contend the ban would hurt  their business, especially during tough economic times. Ban proponents point to research and findings in other cities that showed that smoking bans had little effect on business and even increased  many bars’ and restaurants’ business.

In addition to the two county propositions, voters in Florissant will have another proposition, Proposition A, which allows the city to raise business license fees.

At the last city council meeting, the council said  it  would not immediately raise the fees if the proposition is passed. The council took this action after the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce vigorously opposed the fee increase. The chamber took issue with the city proposing the fee increases without seeking input from businesses in the city.  City council  and chamber members me to avert a major controversy.

Several council members stated that they would work with business owners in the city and develop a plan that would phase in the increases. However, it was too late to remove the proposition from the ballot.

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