By JOHN THOMPSON
Staff Writer

Residents of Tyrone might soon see the colorful smoking and nonsmoking signs that started popping up in Peachtree City last week.

After a nearly 20-minute discussion, Tyrone's Town Council decided to implement a voluntary policy that will allow business owners to place the signs in the establishments starting next year.

Mayor Richard Santiago and Councilman Bill Stone favored creating an ordinance that would make the signs mandatory, but Councilman Ray Bogenschutz didn't like the sound of an ordinance.

"Small businesses are already encumbered by too many laws. I personally favor a policy," he said.

Santiago countered by saying that an ordinance would allow residents to look at the signs and determine if they wanted to enter a business that had smoking. The signs would tell a customer if the establishment allowed smoking in all areas, restricted smoking to certain areas or was a total smoke-free business.

The signs would be available when business licenses were renewed next year and would cost the businessman about 50 cents, said Town Manager Barry Amos.

Bogenschutz said that good businessmen would display the signs, but he still felt the ultimate decision should rest with the owner and not mandated by the town's government.

The policy passed with Bogenschutz, Councilperson Lisa Richardson and Ronnie Cannon voting for it, while Santiago and Councilman Bill Stone voted against it. Stone and Santiago said they would have favored creating an ordinance and mandating the signage.

In other news, the town dispelled rumors the town's sewer committee had been disbanded. Santiago said the committee had not met recently since there was no new information to discuss. With the town facing growth pressures from the development on Ga. Highway 74 and a possible PUD development from John Wieland, Santiago said the committee would have several issues to discuss when new information was available.