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Presque Isle smoking ordinance raises questions

Fire safety and health and environment issues are important issues to consider, especially when it concerns one of the area’s premier attractions: Presque Isle Park.

How to keep these issues in check, however, is debatable.

The Marquette City Commission is looking at developing an ordinance to regulate smoking at Presque Isle. Fire safety was at the top of the list for the reasons an ordinance is being considered, with cigarettes a potential cause for grass, brush and forest fires.

Environmentally, cigarette butts are unsightly and do not biodegrade. They are harmful to children and wild animals that digest them, plus toxic residue from tobacco products can flow into lakes, streams and other water sources (Presque Isle mainly is surrounded by Lake Superior).

Smoking, of course, also is considered a major public health concern.

Eliminating threats from these three factors is a good thing for Presque Isle. The questions are: How does this happen? Can it happen? Or even should it happen?

The commission was divided on the topic, voting 4-3 Monday to direct city staff to develop a smoking ordinance for the park, which was recommended by the Presque Isle Park Advisory Committee.

More big government, rules and regulations were cited as several reasons against an ordinance. Another point raised was the fact that vehicles being driven around the island probably produce more toxic fumes than cigarettes.

Enforcement is key, with a gradual approach similar to the policy at Northern Michigan University advised. However, how vigilant will police have to be? If someone’s smoking in the park’s wooded interior, how will that be enforced?

Also, would the smoking policy be extended to include all city parks? And how easy would that be to enforce?

There are many questions that need to be answered before Presque Isle becomes a smoke-free park.

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