VILLA GROVE- One mayor's idea, as he gets ready for the state- wide smoking ban.
The VIlla Grove mayor doesn't want the state to see one penny. The Villa Grove mayor says if he has to put in the time to keep people from smoking his town not the state should benefit. That's why he is writing a new ordinance just in time for the smoking ban to take affect January 1. He wants to keep the money from fines of people breaking the new law in his home town.
The mayor says small towns are being hit the hardest trying to find the best way to enforce the new smoking laws. The health department will write the violations but it will be local law enforcement taking the calls.
The Villa Grove mayor says he does not agree with the smoking ban, but this is bigger than that, he says if it's going to be a state law he has to follow he's going to find a way it can benefit his town, "Now if I have to follow state law then they get the money if I create this ordinance then the money comes back to my tax payers. If I"m going to fine my tax payers than I should be able to spend the money."
He's working with the state's attorney to finalize his ordinance. If this ordinance works. He says he'll make improvements around town with the money from the fines. He says with recent budget cuts they're hurting and need new equipment.. This would be one way they'd be able to do that.