The Ingham County Board of Commissioners is considering a proposal that would ban smoking in all public indoor establishments - including bars and restaurants.

The board will hold a public hearing 7 p.m. Monday in Conference Room A at the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar St. in Lansing, to discuss the proposal. The measure is being lobbied by the American Lung Association of Michigan.

The association has asked government entities, including the East Lansing City Council, to support the measure.

“This ordinance is for the workers in smoky establishments, as well as nonsmokers,” said Steve Springer, the Lung Association’s capital region manager. “Every time smoke comes out the end of a cigarette, it is infringing on all nonsmokers’ rights.

“Workers’ health is what we are concerned about, but also the people who want access to the smoking establishments.”

According to the association, secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing 53,000 nonsmokers each year.

The proposed ordinance would not affect tobacco specialty stores, 25 percent of hotel and motel rooms and private residences, except those used to provide day care.

Ingham County Commissioner Anne Smiley of Okemos declined to say whether she supported the measure. She said the board will not take a position on the proposal until after it hears public input.

“We can’t take a stand on it now, that’s what the public hearings are for,” she said.

However, the proposal faces stiff opposition from the Michigan Restaurant Association and area restaurant and bar owners.

Bill Zaagman, the association’s director of governmental affairs, said this proposed ordinance would infringe upon business owners’ rights and go against state laws.

“State law governs smoking in restaurants, and the ordinance would serve no purpose of stopping people’s smoking habits,” Zaagman said. “They would just move elsewhere, shifting the places they smoke.”

California is the only state where smoking is prohibited in public places with certain stipulations.

In 1997, the city of Marquette tried to adopt a similar ordinance and was taken to court by the Michigan Restaurant Association and lost. The case has been taken to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Zaagman said the proposal would also cause difficulties for restaurant and bar patrons in Lansing, which sits in Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties.

“There are so many restaurants that accommodate smokers, and there are about 2,800 in the state that ban smoking,” Zaagman said. “Since Lansing touches a few counties, it would be confusing to customers since they would be able to smoke in some places of the city and not others.”

Joe Bell, owner of The Peanut Barrel Restaurant, 521 E. Grand River Ave., said he thinks the ordinance is inevitable.

The restaurant offers a nonsmoking section until 10 p.m., and patrons can smoke throughout the establishment thereafter.

“I think we’ll see a downturn in business,” Bell said. “The places that are more driven by alcohol than food will be most effected.”

Restaurants not affiliated with a barlike atmosphere would also be impacted by the proposal.

Terry Bettinger, owner of Bagel-Fragel Deli, 527 E. Grand River Ave., has mixed feelings about the ordinance.

“If everyone else was on the same field, which means implementing the ordinance, it would be different,” she said. “My smoking section is the one thing I have that may provide an edge, so I’m not totally against it.”

The proposal also faces opposition from area smokers.

Theater senior Adrianna Tatti, who was smoking at The Peanut Barrel on Thursday, said the ordinance is ridiculous.

“Going to bars to smoke and relax plays a major part of most students’ lives,” Tatti said. “I’ll bet there will be more house parties now, which will lead to more trouble.”

So far, area Ingham County governments have taken a “hands-off” approach to the ordinance, choosing not to officially endorse or oppose it.

The East Lansing City Council discussed the measure Tuesday.

Mayor Pro Tem Beth Schwarze said the council does not like to get involved in business matters.

“We like to stay neutral on matters such as these,” Schwarze said. “Ultimately, I think that it is the business’ individual rights to chose whether or not they will ban smoking.”

Lansing has also been approached by the Lung Association to support the plan. So far, the city has declined to do so.

Lansing Councilmember Louis Adado said at least four council members are opposed to the proposal.

“This puts businesses at disadvantage, and businesses should decide for themselves,” Adado said. “Most restaurants accommodate smokers anyway,. This ordinance is not needed.”

Amanda Clapp can be reached at clappama@msu.edu.