Residents of Tyrone might soon see the colorful smoking and

nonsmoking signs that started popping up in Peachtree City

last week.

After a nearly 20-minute discussion, Tyrone's Town

Council decided to implement a voluntary policy that will allow

business owners to place the signs in the establishments starting next year.

Mayor Richard Santiago and Councilman Bill Stone

favored creating an ordinance that would make the signs mandatory,

but Councilman Ray Bogenschutz didn't like the sound of an

ordinance.

"Small businesses are already encumbered by too many laws.

I personally favor a policy," he said.

Santiago countered by saying that an ordinance would

allow residents to look at the signs and determine if they wanted to

enter a business that had smoking. The signs would tell a customer if

the establishment allowed smoking in all areas, restricted smoking

to certain areas or was a total smoke-free business.

The signs would be available when business licenses were

renewed next year and would cost the businessman about 50

cents, said Town Manager Barry Amos.

Bogenschutz said that good businessmen would display

the signs, but he still felt the ultimate decision should rest with

the owner and not mandated by the town's government.

The policy passed with Bogenschutz, Councilperson

Lisa Richardson and Ronnie Cannon voting for it, while Santiago

and Councilman Bill Stone voted against it. Stone and Santiago

said they would have favored creating an ordinance and mandating

the signage.

In other news, the town dispelled rumors the town's

sewer committee had been disbanded. Santiago said the committee

had not met recently since there was no new information to

discuss. With the town facing growth pressures from the

development on Ga. Highway 74 and a possible PUD development from

John Wieland, Santiago said the committee would have several

issues to discuss when new information was available.

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