Monongalia County One Step Closer to Smoking Ban

The Monongalia County Board of Health heard more from the public Tuesday about a proposed smoking ban.

Tuesday's special meeting was open to the public because some people complained at the board's last meeting, that it wasn't doing enough in a public setting.

Hot Spot owners are seeking an exemption from the smoking ban but health experts said it should go through.

"We know from studies that profits actually go up in a lot of the non-smoking establishments in the bars and the restaurants where smoking bans were put in place because people feel like they're more welcome in those places when there's not smoking there," said WVU Hospital Occupational Health's Michael McCawley.

The board will vote on the ban on Monday, January 9. It would go into effect March 9th,

The city of Morgantown will take up its proposed ban again on January 17.