NATCHEZ — Local leaders are more seriously discussing the possibility of a citywide no smoking ordinance.

During a meeting of the Natchez Chamber of Commerce Tourism Council Monday, council members discussed its possibility and potential ramifications.

“There are a lot of passionate feelings about it one way or another,” Grand Soleil Marketing Director Baxter Lee said.

The issue was first brought up by Aldermen Bob Pollard and James “Ricky” Gray during a board of aldermen at the end of October.

Mayor Jake Middleton said the city can push through an ordinance if its what residents and business owners want.

“The city is pretty well ready to go if everybody else is ready to go with it,” he said.

It was the consensus during the meeting that if an ordinance comes to fruition, it needs to be done before any statewide decisions are made.

The legislative session opens in January and from year to year, bills are always brought up about going smoke free statewide, Rep. Sam Mims said the following day.

“That’s something that’s been introduced for the past several years,” Mims said.

He said he feels confident that it will be brought up again this year.

“I do believe the same representatives and senators will introduce the legislation again to ban smoking either in public places or demand it throughout the state,” he said.

Sen. Bob Dearing said during a recent joint meeting of house and senate public health committees, testimony was given by the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society.

“(They) were testifying in favor of a statewide smoking ban in all public questions,” he said.

In response, representatives from restaurant and casino associations gave testimony on how going smoke free in those two environments would be detrimental.

“They were concerned that it would hurt their business,” he said. “The last thing we need in these economic times is to lose revenue.”

Vice President and General Manager of the Isle of Capri, Natchez, Tony Scudiero said if Natchez had a no smoking ordinance, casino-goers would migrate to places where they could still smoke.

Middleton said if the city does create an ordinance, it will be in baby steps.

“I think you can throw too much out there at one time like we did with the sign ordinance,” he said.

He said he was in favor of banning smoking in restaurants, but still allowing it in casinos and bars that don’t serve food.

General Manager for the Country Inn and Suites Patricia Lozon said her hotel and bar are smoke free and it’s been beneficial.

“We get a ton of compliments and praise for being nonsmoking,” she said.

And although the group said people would adjust to not smoking in restaurants, Scudiero said having such an ordinance will frighten business owners.

“I would be too as an owner of a restaurant or bar,” he said.

That’s why the council decided that during its next regular meeting, all Natchez bar and restaurant owners are welcome to come voice their opinions and concerns and also to educate themselves on going smoke free.

The next meeting will be at 4 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Grand Soleil.