Hartsville approves tobacco-free ordinance for city parks

Hartsville City Council has given unanimous final approval to an ordinance that makes city parks tobacco-free.

The ordinance, passed during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, bans smoking as well as the use of other tobacco products in all of the city’s public parks and other outdoor facilities owned by the city. The ordinance calls for a $25 fine for each violation.

“Our goal is first and foremost to protect the children,” Hartsville Mayor Mel Pennington said. “We want to approach this from a customer service standpoint. We would hope that officers will courteously ask smokers and tobacco users to stop what they are doing before writing any citation. We are not looking to lay down the hand of the law.”

Before approval of smoking ordinance, council heard some discussion as to the wording of the ordinance and whether “general public” and “common-use” areas pertained to city-owned sidewalks and parking lots.

On the advice of City Attorney Marty Driggers, Councilmember Johnny L. Andrews offered an amendment to include “excluding sidewalks and parking lots adjacent to businesses” in Section I of the ordinance. The amendment was seconded and approved.

The city will be required to post signs at the entrance of designated areas that clearly state that smoking and tobacco use of any kind is prohibited.

The city already prohibits smoking and other tobacco use in city-owned buildings and vehicles.

During council’s April meeting, Pennington stressed the city is not at a point at which officials are prepared to consider a ban on smoking in private businesses such as restaurants.

Also during Monday’s meeting, also approved first reading of a $12.8 million proposed budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year. The budget breakdown is: general fund, $7,928,854; utilities fund, $3,563,252; solid waste fund, $1,030,000; hospitality fund, $706,195; accommodations tax fund, $94,650; and stormwater utility fund, $201,000.

The proposed general fund budget includes funding for merit raises for employees of from 1 to 3 percent based on performance evaluations.

In addition, council approved increasing the millage rate by 1.6 percent to 127.98 mills for the 2011-12 Fiscal Year.

Council will hold its regular monthly work session May 23 and is expected to review the budget with revised figures then. Final approval of the budget is expected in June.

In other business Monday, council also approved a recycling sponsorship with Sonoco and voted to have the city discontinue its participation in the county’s Pay-Per-Throw Program, more commonly known as the yellow bag program.