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West Fargo leaders relaxed the smoking ban recently to match the state’s more lenient rules, according to the Associated Press.
Before the changes, West Fargo’s smoking ban only allowed smoking in six bars.
West Fargo Mayor Rich Mattern said the changes could take effect as early as next month after a second reading.
West Fargo bars have had to reduce their staff and have seen less business because of the strict smoking ban, according to the Associated Press.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars building has seen its sales fall after the original ban went into effect two years ago, Richard Benson told city commissioners Monday.
Benson said since the ban took affect he has had to cut back his employees by half, bar sales were down nearly $165,000 and gambling sales were down $1.1 million.
“ What we ask for is a level playing field,” Benson said.
According to the Fargo Forum, a majority of leaders from Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead would consider a complete ban on smoking in workplaces if the entire metro area would agree on the same proposal.
Each city has its own smoking ban, passed nearly two years ago after months of debate.
For example, Moorhead allows smoking in bars that don’t admit minors and in restaurant bar areas enclosed by walls.
Fargo exempts truck stops and enclosed bars that restrict people under 21.
The issue has come up now at least partly because of upcoming state legislative sessions.