Perryville City Council unanimously approved the first reading of a comprehensive smoking and vaping ban in public places during its meeting Thursday night.

The second reading will take place during the council’s next regular meeting on Sept. 5, and if passed again, it would become law within 90 days from that date.

Perryville City Attorney Jeff Johnson said he drafted the ordinance based on several other comprehensive smoking bans in other districts, including Danville’s ordinance. Before he started reading the front and back of the eight-page document, Johnson said, “Settle in because it’s not short.”

When he finished reading nearly 20 minutes later, council members asked to clarify a couple of the provisions. Council member Chad Blackwell made the motion to approve the ordinance with Kelly Gray, seconded the motion. The first reading passed unanimously.

The comprehensive smoking ban encompasses all enclosed public places, including businesses, restaurants, banks, and stores.

The ban will be enforced by the city fire department, police and any other city officials or employees designated by the mayor.

Penalties for smoking in public will not exceed $50 for the first violation and not to exceed $100 for the second offense.

Penalties for a business owner who fails to comply with the ordinance will be fined no more than $100 for the first violation; $200 for a second violation within one year; and no more than $250 for each additional violation within one year.

In other city business:

• Council member Adam Gray said he filed an open records request to the City of Danville on Wednesday for its income and expense statements and the city’s 2018 budget. He was looking into how wastewater treatment finances affected Perryville residents’ water bills.
• Council member Carlos Miller asked the council to consider annexing more area into the city.
• Mayor Brian Caldwell acknowledged the city was supposed to pay its annual $500 fee to be a part of the Danville-Boyle County Economic Development Partnership. However, he was curious as to why the organization sent the city a bill for $503.17.
• A representative of the St. Mary Mission Catholic Church told the council that their insurance agent told them they had to repair the brick sidewalk in front of its building due to safety concerns. The congregation decided to replace the sidewalk with concrete and they were working to get the permits to begin the project so that it would be complete by winter.
• The council gave permission for a group to have a cruise-in car show to benefit  the family of a couple who was killed several months ago between Perryville and Springfield.
• The council heard information about the cost of replacing 36 street lights with LED light bulbs. It also received news that the town’s street clock is once again showing the correct time. However it was brought to the council’s attention that new motors could be installed that would allow someone to easily reset the time whenever the power went off to the clock. Mayor Caldwell told the council the boardwalk over the Chaplin River had been closed Saturday night because of it’s  unsafe condition. Repair work and replacement of rotting decking needs to be done and he’s getting prices for the materials that will be used.