By Jason C. Mattox

Batesville aldermen discussed during their Tuesday, Jan. 19 meeting a citywide smoking ban for local businesses. The city leaders also met in executive session to hear a complaint filed against a Batesville police officer.

The smoking ban decision is not expected to be rendered quickly.

City leaders recently endured a long process to allow the Sunday sales of beer that saw aldermen hold a public hearing and hear from several in opposition.

Assistant City Attorney Colmon Mitchell on Tuesday told the board about a $2,500 grant  available to the city from the Mississippi Department of Health to offset the cost of implementing the ban.

“Those funds would at least help you offset some of the legal fees and other costs that would be associated with holding all the hearings and all the advertising,” he said. “You can certainly vote to go no smoking without the grant, but you would miss out on the funding,” he added.

Mitchell explained that the MSDH packet for the grant included a drafted ordinance that was “very good and detailed.”

Ward 4 Alderman Eddie Nabors asked Mitchell to examine the City of Oxford’s existing ordinance for non-smoking.

Ward 1 Alderman Bill Dugger said he didn’t want to see the city make a tough decision for businesses because the owners themselves won’t.

“I know very well the damages of smoking,” he said. “But people can decide if their business is non-smoking or not. Some of them just want us to do it so they can tell customers the city made them do it.

“Where are we going to draw the line?” Dugger asked. “Next time, are we going to say someone can’t wear a strong perfume because it offends some people?”

Nabors said he didn’t want government intrusion, but said his problem is with second-hand smoke.

“I think this is something we might need to do, but it is something I want to think about before we make a decision,” Dugger said.

No action was taken.

•    Following the executive session, Mitchell reported that Batesville police officer Jamie Tedford had been suspended with pay until the next board meeting on Feb. 2 to allow city officials to investigate the complaint against him.

•    Mike Caine was awarded the bid for repair of the roof at the Water Department with a bid of $7,484.

•    Longevity for BPD patrolman Shelby Singleton was approved. Singleton spent two and a half years in law enforcement in DeSoto County.

•    A 1996 Ford Truck was declared surplus property and sold to the City of Sardis for $500.