It took the Liquor Advisory Board members two minutes to repeal city smoking bans that had been in the works for more than a year.

The bans against smoking in Carbondale restaurants and bars were repealed by a unanimous vote Thursday night after Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a statewide smoking ban for all public places effective Jan. 1, 2008. Keeping the ordinances in place would be repetitive, City Clerk Janet Vaught said.

The statewide ban requires persons intending to smoke to be no less than 15 feet away from a public building. Mayor Brad Cole told reporters earlier this year he preferred a smoking ban come from the state.

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Bob Ledbetter, Chief of Carbondale Police Department, said the state is still organizing what penalties offenders of the smoking ban will face if caught by officers.

The public smoking debate began as early as 1990 when the Illinois General Assembly approved the Clean Indoor Air Act, which made physical barriers necessary for designated smoking areas.

On June 24, 2006, Blagojevich signed a bill allowing county governments and municipalities to enact public smoking bans. The Carbondale City Council voted against promoting such restrictions on Nov. 21, 2006. The following April, council members approved the two ordinances banning smoking in restaurants effective Jan. 1, 2008, and in bars on the following July 1.

Blagojevich signed a bill to ban smoking in all public places on July 23, which was the reason for Thursday night’s repeal.

The board also discussed this year’s standard Halloween season with Ledbetter. Because no major incidents were brought up, the discussion was brief.

Barton Lorimor can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 274 or [email protected].