Siouxland Leaders Try To Boost Bar Business, Despite Smoking Ban

It’s been a little more than a month since Nebraska’s smoking ban went into effect. City leaders in one community are trying to set a few guidelines for bars to help boost business, without breaking the law.

To try and avoid putting out the flame, many bars in Nebraska have been setting up beer gardens and tents, to accommodate to smokers. The question is, what’s legal?

Because of the smoking ban, many bars in South Sioux City say they have been losing business, and fast. To accommodate smokers, some bars around town have been putting up small shelters and building beer gardens, but just because tents are going up, doesn’t mean it can stay that way.

“We’ll be determining if those can stay or have to be moved, or relocate in all cases if they’re going to have to be anchored to meet the building codes of our community, in fact the national building codes, says South Sioux City Administrator Lance Hedquist.

At the South Sioux City Council meeting, council members decided that whatever bar owners decide to build, must match the building structure. Even though these beer gardens are new options for smokers, some still aren’t happy.

“Yeah it’s not so bad out here but when its winds blowing, and its 10 below out, I’m gonna stay at home I’m not gonna be coming to a bar, says Larry Teager of South Sioux.

“I think this is ridiculous they have to go to this expense just so we can smoke, just so they can survive,” says Pam Bird of South Sioux.

The city council decided that if bar owners do build an additional structure in South Sioux, they must get it approved by a design committee. If a design committee does not approve the structure, bars can appeal the decision to the south sioux city council.

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