By Jason C. Mattox

The City of Batesville has banned smoking in private businesses and on city-owned property.

The ban begins March 4.

That is the effective date of the non-smoking ordinance, adopted by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, during Tuesday’s meeting.

The city leaders voted 4-1, with Ward 1 Alderman Bill Dugger casting the lone nay vote.

City leaders began discussing a non-smoking ordinance Jan. 19 when aldermen asked assistant city attorney Colmon Mitchell to draft an ordinance for consideration.

The ban will include all businesses and city-owned property.

“That would mean no smoking on the Downtown Square, Patton Lane Park or any of the city’s baseball fields.

Ward 4 Alderman Eddie Nabors, who first brought up the city going no smoking, said property owners could receive a discount on property insurance.

“You are talking about business owners who could save as much as 12-16 percent if their establishment goes non-smoking,” he said.

Dugger, who said during a previous meeting that he didn’t want the city overstepping its bounds, said if the ordinance was needed, he did not want to see it become a large debate.

“If this is something we are going to make a decision on, I want us to get it done without dragging it out,” he said.

In other board business:

•Property owned by Newt Davis at 208 Van Voris St., was rezoned from C-2 commercial to C-1 commercial.

•Water and Sewer Superintendent Mike Ross gave an update on the sewer line relocation behind Bancorp South, saying the job should be completed by Tuesday of next week.

•Aldermen discussed a sales contract to purchase a neighboring building from C. Gaines Baker to be used as a new home for the Code Enforcement Office.

•Fire Chief Tim Taylor was given permission to repair the tornado siren on Highway 51 at a cost of $2,900.