WHEELING - By summer, patrons of bars and restaurants in Ohio County no longer will be able to light up with their drinks or dinner.

On Thursday, the Wheeling-Ohio County Board of Health unanimously adopted a new clean indoor air regulation that prohibits smoking in restaurants and bars throughout the county. The new regulation will take effect Friday, May 27. However, not all members of the audience expressed support of the issue nor of the regulation.

"The board has looked at this for no less than 14 months," Wheeling-Ohio County Health Officer Dr. William Mercer said. "This is really for the employees. If you live in America, you shouldn't have to look for a safe place to work ... You're asking us to ignore the air, and the board just can't do that. This is probably the toughest issue the board is ever going to face.

Mercer noted that the effective date of the new regulation coincides with the 2005 Ogden 20K Classic Run and Walk weekend, occurring on the Friday before the Saturday distance race.

"The Ogden Newspapers 20K Race is very proud to be part of this first, very giant step in having the smoking ban for Ohio County," said Howard Corcoran Jr., race director, pointing out that the underlying theme of the race is "Run for Health."

While several people congratulated the board for taking action on the issue, one of the groups that spoke out against the regulation was the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, represented by chamber President Terry Sterling.

"The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce understands the position of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department that smoking and second-hand smoke are harmful," Sterling read from a prepared statement. "However, it is the position of the chamber that implementation of the 2005 Clean Indoor Air Regulations will have an adverse economic impact to those businesses that must comply with these regulations.

"While the chamber is opposed to the implementation of these regulations, the chamber recognizes the responsibility of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department to act in the best interest of the community to protect public health," Sterling concluded.

Sterling said the opposition to the regulation is in keeping with the membership of the chamber. He added that the stance is in support of the member businesses.

Other members of the audience involved in Wheeling business also spoke out against the regulation, and some expressed opposition to the fact that free-standing limited video lottery rooms are exempted in the new regulation.

"I've been in business in Wheeling for about six years now, and I have made a big investment in Wheeling," said John Delgrande, owner of River City Ale Works. "It is no cakewalk owning a business in downtown Wheeling. Every penny I have is invested in Wheeling, and ... this puts me more at a disadvantage."

Delgrande asked the board to consider making the smoking regulation create 100 percent smoke-free businesses or to not be put in place at all.

"The board has looked at it and realized this is probably the best we can do for now," Mercer said. "We still have a goal of 100 percent. But sometimes you have to take steps, and this is our first step."

The new regulation prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places in the county with the following exceptions: free-standing limited video lottery rooms, private residences when not used as a child care or health care facility, designated hotel and motel rooms, bingo operations distributing more than 100 cards or sheets, retail tobacco stores and conference or meeting halls being used for private functions and gaming areas and wagering areas that serve food located in gaming and entertainment establishments.

Previously, the board had considered allowing an exception for free-standing bars, but the arguments of several business people who own restaurants with attached bars who would not be exempted persuaded the board to reconsider that plan.

Dr. Michael Blatt, a local pulmonologist and strong supporter of the smoke-free regulation, expressed not only his pleasure at the passage of the regulation but also a strong desire for people to continue to support local businesses, especially now with the new regulation.

"I would ask that everybody in this community direct every reserve they have to businesses in Ohio County," Blatt said. "We must Ñ we will support you" businesspeople.

Others in the crowd showed outrage at the exemption of free-standing lottery rooms, which benefits Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center.

"You gave one place the exemption. Why do they get to be exempt?" Bethlehem resident Ryan Boord asked the board. "It's not right. It's not fair."

Mercer explained that all businesses with free-standing video lottery rooms would be able to allow smoking in those rooms, and it was pointed out that all restaurant and bar areas of the facility will be smoke-free in line with the regulation. So, Mercer said, the regulation applies to all businesses.

"What we tried to do is craft this regulation as fairly as possible," board member Dr. John Holloway said.

"I truly believe this is going to be a positive for the community. I am very proud of what we are doing here for the community."

"You as a health department have to make catastrophic decisions," Blatt said. "Sometimes those decisions aren't quite fair, but I support this decision as a doctor and as a resident of Ohio County."