NATCHEZ — Business owners and tourism leaders alike will convene Monday to discuss the possibility of a citywide smoking ordinance.

During the Natchez Chamber of Commerce Tourism Council’s December meeting, the council began its discussions on a smoking ordinance.

The consensus of that meeting was to bring together community leaders to discuss the potential impacts an ordinance would have on restaurants, bars, hotels and casinos.

“From our last meeting, I’m anticipating quite a bit of people from the industry to be there,” Tourism Council Chairman Baxter Lee said.

One stumbling block of a smoking ordinance — which was discussed at the last meeting — is how to apply it to casinos.

Lee is the marketing director of Grand Soleil Hotel and Casino, and he said he’s done research on smoking ordinances and casinos.

“We’ve looked at several cities in Mississippi and other states,” he said. “There’s a wide variety of ordinances out there that pertain to smoking in public places.

“It’s just a matter of finding one, if there is one, that makes sense to Natchez and our citizens.”

Lee, and other city leaders, stated at the last meeting that the worry is a smoking ordinance may have a negative impact on tourism.

“So we’re anxious to hear what people’s opinions are,” Lee said.

The idea of a smoking ordinance was originally brought up by Aldermen James “Ricky” Gray and Bob Pollard during an October board of aldermen meeting.

The mayor attended the last tourism council meeting, and Lee said the mayor is waiting for the tourism council’s recommendation on whether the city should pursue the ordinance.

The Tourism Council meeting is at 4 p.m. Monday at the Grand Soleil.