Our own Gary Walters was scheduled as today's speaker in his role as Crow Wing County Commissioner. Gary even brought visual aides!! He was ambidextrous enough to present both sides of a hot issue, the smoking ban. Steve Mau wanted him introduced as shortly portly Gary Walters Gary has been dealing with this controversial issue for 7 months as part of a task force. The task force was made up of three opposed, three against, a public health person and Gary. Many areas and cities have instituted this ban with mixed results. The EPA has studied the issue and the statistics that are being presented as part of the pro-ban advertising have been questioned. There are no safe levels for bad particles in the air but none of the restaurants studied were over OSHA's standard for these particles. Two big factors are health care costs and the closing of businesses due to the ban. There were many freedom issues involved--customer's choice or business's choice? Since many public buildings already have banns they should be extended? One option is to restrict smoking on the basis of restaurant vs. bar. Another is to base it on the time of day. A phase in time period might be proposed. This is not really a second hand smoke issue, it is aimed at smokers and the health risks they pose to themselves and others. A smoking ban might encourage people to stop smoking. Many Sertoman members felt this was a federal issue and that it could not be legislated. The bottom line is that Gary encouraged us to let our County Commissioners know how we feel about this issue and whether or not it is a concern of the county.