The Daily Dispatch

With the announcement of a movement to make bars smoke free in Wahpeton, area bar owners are not happy.

The Richland County Tobacco Free Coalition is gathering signatures of support for a smoke-free ordinance in Wahpeton. Firehouse Pub owners Kirk Peterson and Steph Hickel said it comes down to a basic freedom of choice.

"Patrons who are here choose to be here," Peterson said. He argues if the city passes a smoke free law, its taking away his right to provide service to everyone. He said a lot of issues are not being addressed including job loss and economic impact.

"My question is, the coalition is named 'Richland County.' Why aren't they targeting the whole county?" Peterson said. "Why make Wahpeton take the brunt of it?"

Peterson said 80 percent of his customers are smokers, however the other 20 percent have told him they are in his bar by choice.

Breckenridge resident Lyle Lezon is a non-smoker who frequents the Firehouse Pub. He's retired and after a long day in his woodworking shop he enjoys having a beer and good conversation.

"I choose to come to the bar and if I don't want to be around smoke then I'll leave," he said. "Smokers should be able to smoke."

Plus, Peterson and Hickel have taken measures to make the building more friendly to non-smokers. About a year ago, they installed a new ventilation system that is on a 15 minute timer to help clear the air.

"We addressed that problem before this issue even came up," Peterson said.

Eight of their 13 employees are part-timers who rely on bar tending as a second income. Peterson and Hickel are worried if a smoking ban takes effect, they will have to lay off part timers and cut hours of full-time employees.

Jaki Ristow, a non-smoker, is a full-time employee at the Firehouse Pub, who recently moved to Wahpeton from Nebraska, where she was also a bartender. She said Nebraska is suffering after it passed a smoke free law.

"A lot of bars have closed since [the law] took effect," Ristow said. "I don't like it... business will get slower and I'd have to find a second job."

Vet's Club Manager Paulette Hoeft said she's opposed to a smoke-free law for Wahpeton bars as well.

"To me it's going to hurt us," she said. Hoeft, a non-smoker, has worked in bars for many years for a secondary income. Now that she's working in a bar full time, she's more concerned a smoke-free law could impact her job.

Alfie Medenwaldt, Wahpeton American Legion commander, said it's the customer's choice whether they want to be in a smoking bar or a non-smoking bar. The Vet's Club gives both options. A few years ago, North Dakota made it manditory for bars that serve food must have a smoke-free area. So the Vet's Club spent $3,000 to partition the bar from the dining room with glass doors. That way, those who wish to be in a smoke-free environment can go to the dining room.

Wahpeton VFW Commander Tom Keifer has been a smoker for most his life and said it is completely up to the customer whether they want to be in a bar with smoke.

"If people cannot handle the smoke, they have rights," Keifer said. "But why encroach on my rights? If it bothers you that much, get out or go in the back." Keifer argues a possible smoking ban is doubly unfair to veterans, who fought for the right to be free.

"I try to respect others' rights, why take my rights away?" he said. "There has to be some common sense â€” ventilation, non-smoking area, smoking area. Try something for everyone." The Vet's Club also spent some extra money five to six years ago to put in a good ventilation system to help clear the air.

Robert Singelman of Wahpeton frequents the Vet's Club and said he quit smoking 40 years ago. However, that doesn't mean he wants to see others do the same. "It's the government trying to regulate everything and that's a crock," he said. "If you don't like a place where there's smoke, then don't go."

Sportman's Bar Manager Gerald Pulvermacher said he's worked in the bar business for 19 years and a possible smoking ban is bogus. He said it's up to bar owners to run their businesses. "It's not up to a group to run an establishment," he added. "There are plenty of non-smoking establishments in the area." He said bars are for people 21 and older and they have the right to smoke. If a ban were to take effect, Pulvermacher believes the bars would lose customers and employees would lose jobs.

Peterson, Hickel and Pulvermacher argue that the city of Wahpeton will lose a lot of business to bars outside city limits like Terrace Lanes, which, if a ban is implemented, will not have to go smoke-free. Terrace Lanes is technically a part of the city of Dwight and gains its license through the county. If business is lost, the city will lose some of its tax base and will have to compensate by raising taxes, Peterson said.

"People don't realize the chain that goes with it," Hickel said. "If this happens, taxes will go up, people will lose jobs. Really, is that what's best for the community?"

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