Petition seeks repeal of Clean Air Ordinance

St Joe’s Clean Air Ordinance originated with a citizens’ petition, and it now appears another such petition could lead to the repeal of the city’s smoking ban.

Steve Peterman, owner of Peterman’s Shamrock on St Joe Avenue, is hoping to repeal the current anti-smoking ordinances and replace them with a new one that would allow establishments serving adults to choose whether to go smoke-free.

That petition was filed last week. Peterman would need 2,568 certified signatures to force additional action on his proposal.

Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey says her office is going over the petition, and should be done validating the signatures by later this week or early next week.

Peterman was the named plaintiff in a failed lawsuit claiming the current ordinances violate the state constitution.