City may ban all tobacco at parks

It’s already illegal to smoke at city parks and ball fields and in city buildings and vehicles.

A pending amendment to the city code of ordinances will soon outlaw all tobacco products at city parks. At the recommendation of the Mills County Public Health Office (MCPH), the city has agreed to amend its smoking / tobacco ordinance and replace signage at Glenwood Lake Park and Hiley-Kiwanis Park. Current signs indicate the parks “smoke free” as mandated by the Smoke Free Air Act of 2008.

MCPH spokesperson Melody Ragland told council members at their regular meeting Tuesday, April 23, the new signage will be funded by the state of Iowa as long as the city formally adopts its new policy.
Mayor Kim Clark said when the city’s current no-smoking ordinance was adopted, chewing tobacco products were not included because of concerns expressed by some city employees “who chew.”

Under the amended ordinance, chewing tobacco would only be banned in the parks. Fans and players will still be allowed to chew at the recreation complex, and city employees will be allowed to chew on the job.

Library Issues Discussed

The council learned from a spokesperson from JEO Consulting Group the roof and building restoration repairs to the Glenwood Public Library are estimated to cost $131,283. Public contractor bids will be submitted for the May 23 council meeting. Work is projected to be completed by Sept. 13.

“We didn’t want to carry over into homecoming,” Glenwood code enforcement officer Jim Webel said.

The city council gave its approval for a Glenwood Public Library Board  proposal to ask city residents to approve a special library tax levy in the November election. The 27 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation levy would generate an estimated $35,000 for the library. The proposed  levy vote is only under consideration at this time.