Chickasha City Council approves ordinance to limit tobacco, vape sales near schools, playgrounds

Jessica Lane, The Express-Star, Chickasha, Okla.
·2 min read

Mar. 27—A new Chickasha city ordinance aims to limit the sale of nicotine products near minors.

However, some Chickasha City Council members feel some details in the ordinance are cloudy.

At a special meeting on Tuesday night, the council approved the ordinance, which limits the sale of tobacco or vape products within 300 feet of a school, playground, park or other location typically occupied by those under 21.

The rising use of vapes among minors is a widespread problem that affects Chickasha as well, Rachel Bernish, Community Development Director, said.

A new Chickasha city ordinance aims to limit the sale of nicotine products near minors.

However, some Chickasha City Council members feel some details in the ordinance are cloudy.

At a special meeting on Tuesday night, the council approved the ordinance, which limits the sale of tobacco or vape products within 300 feet of a school, playground, park or other location typically occupied by those under 21.

The rising use of vapes among minors is a widespread problem that affects Chickasha as well, Rachel Bernish, Community Development Director, said.

Chickasha Middle School found around 200 vapes hidden in the ceiling tiles of the girls bathroom. Moreover, local schools have installed vape detectors in school bathrooms, Bernish said.

"The goal here is to prevent middle schoolers [and] high schoolers from using tobacco products. That's the heart of this ordinance," she said.

The special city council meeting was preceded by a public hearing during a Chickasha Planning Commission meeting. No one spoke for or against the ordinance, but Bernish gave some background information.

She said approving the new ordinance will help the City of Chickasha qualify for a TSET grant that was discussed earlier in March. The $120,000 grant from TSET must be used for city parks. The special meeting was held in order to make the March 2024 deadline for the funding, Bernish said.

Businesses who already sell tobacco/vape products within 300 feet of a school, such as a convenience store, would be grandfathered in, according to city documents.

However, some council members were concerned about how the ordinance would affect the resell value of businesses. For example, if the convenience store changes owners, the ordinance does not allow the new owner to use the grandfathering clause to obtain a license.

Spencer Winzenried, Chickasha Parks and Recreation Director, said if there were problems with the ordinance in the future, the council could vote to drop it. He said the ordinance could not be altered to omit the statement about how changing owners could negate the grandfather clause. He also said there were limitations to how enforceable the new ordinance would be.