Supervisors Opt Not To Grant Exemption From Smoking Ban

By David Howell

Editor

WATER VALLEY – A request to grant the local VFW post an exemption from the county’s smoke free ordinance was rejected last week by supervisors with a 3-2 vote. VFW Post 4100 Quartermaster Mickell Dunn requested the exemption, explaining the post has experienced a loss in revenue that coincides with the implementation of the ordinance last July. 

Dunn said the revenue for the second half of 2017 dropped by almost $13,000, money the post earns from Friday night bingo and the Saturday dance.

“During the second six months in 2017 we had a drastic difference at the VFW as far as deposits,” Dunn explained during the Feb. 5 meeting at the Water Valley courthouse.  He said the decrease directly coincides with the ordinance implemented last July by supervisors that prohibits smoking in all place of public accommodation. 

Dunn also said the money is used to support various organizations ranging from St. Jude to the sheriff’s department. With the decrease, he added that the VFW has been forced to scale back their support. 

“But some of the things we didn’t scale back on are local veterans in the county when they come to us and ask for help. We still pay their light bills, we still give them donations to help them with groceries and different things. We are not going to scale those back,” Dunn explained. 

Dunn’s plea generated a response from Board President Cayce Washington and District 3 Supervisor Lee McMinn against granting the exemption before the split vote when District 4 Supervisor Tim Booker also agreed not to grant the exemption. 

“It was not our intent at all to hurt the revenue stream for the VFW. I think there is not a member of this board that doesn’t value the service that our veterans have done for our country,” Washington said.

He also cited comments made during a December meeting where two members of the VFW ladies auxiliary, both smokers, told supervisors they supported the smoke-free ordinance.

“There were some comments made that particular day specifically about the smoking at the VFW. One lady said she was a smoker, and I am saying this in the public because it was in a public meeting when she brought this out. She said she was a smoker and she was in favor of that. And the lady with her was in favor of that,” Washington said 

Washington also cited references made by the ladies during the Dec. 14 meeting about internal problems at the post.

“They are saying there were some issues at the leadership role, I don’t know if that is you or other people, I am just saying what was said that day,” Washington said. “I am not trying to point the finger back at anybody, I am simply stating what was stated in this meeting at the end of December,” Washington explained. 

“With the smoking ban, obviously the timeline coincides.  But there were two ladies that are members here that go out there and play bingo and participate and said the smoking ban was not part of the problem, and if I am misstating that, I would like someone to speak up to change that,” he continued.

“There is another lady that works in the kitchen out there, she stated she was a 20-year smoker and had quit some years ago and told me specifically, that it was hard to work out there,” Washington added.  “Again I see the numbers, I don’t want to hurt the VFW, but I have heard both sides and I have had more people come to me in favor of it than against it,” Washington continued, adding that if an exemption was granted it would lead to similar requests in the county. 

McMinn also voiced his opinion against making an exception, citing recent research on the issue. 

“Some VFWs, depending on where they are, actually advertise being smoke-free,” McMinn said. He also pointed to information the VFW’s national website that indicated that the trend is to ask local VFWs to go smoke free.

“They are not forcing them, but they are asking them. It’s been slow coming, but the trend is for going smoke free. That said, I just have to think about looking at the formula for an organization that depends on whether you have a room full of people in a smoke-filled, fogged area as the way to make money. I just can’t in any way feel good about that,” McMinn said.

He cited his personal feelings, growing up in a house with two heavy smokers.

“Being trapped in a house or a car as a kid that don’t have a say in it is not a good feeling. I know these are grown folks, these are adults that make their own decisions. But after reading on this, I just think there has got to be a better way. I just wish the local VFW could embrace this as an opportunity to take a healthier route and include more of a family atmosphere where smoking is just not the priority,” McMinn said.

“That being said, I can’t be for making an exception for the ordinance,” McMinn said.

Dunn’s Response

“I think it is great that one or two people come to you and express what they like about it, but when I bring in figures that show $13,000 difference between deposits, one or two people are not making up that $13,000. That is a lot of donations and a lot of help that different organizations here could receive,” Dunn countered.

“Maybe in a few years, like you said the momentum is changing and things are changing. But right now, specifically with Grenada being 20 minutes down the road. That is where most of our smokers went,” Dunn said. “They are loving it, their business picked up,” Dunn added about the Grenada VFW.

“Well I voted against it, but I don’t think you are going to change any of these other guys’ minds,” District 5 Supervisor Gaylon Gray said, referring to his lone vote against implementing the ordinance last year..

“All I can do is ask,” Dunn replied.

“I want you to know I am really not trying to step on the freedom of our veterans, I know it looks that way, but there is also the freedom of those veterans who choose not to vote to be out there as well. Trapped in a room where if they want to participate in VFW activities, they have no choice except to not participate,” Washington said.

“You kind of make it sound like we are in this foggy room of smoke where we can’t see each other. We have five gigantic smoke eaters in the ceiling out there that suck that smoke up and filter it, and send fresh air back into the room. It’s not like a smoke-filled atmosphere where you can’t see each other,” Dunn countered.

“I guess for me if there was an air quality check, to check it with smoke and without, and it could show scientific evidence that it was as healthy as a non-smoke room, I could probably go along with it. But I don’t know that test would show that. I am still concerned about the health of those that chose not to smoke that want to participate,” Washington said.

“Based on figures… I would rather have the non-smokers not show up,” Dunn said. 

Washington then opened the floor for a motion, which came from Gray and was seconded by District 2 Supervisor Ken Rogers to grant an exception for the VFW. The vote failed after Booker voted with McMinn and Washington not to grant the exception.