Heavy Hitters!

If the city of Nitro can't change the minds of Kanawha County health officials, then perhaps it can change the county where the health officials reside.
By The Associated Press


CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- If the city of Nitro can't change the minds of Kanawha County health officials, then perhaps it can change the county where the health officials reside.

That's the latest option being considered by Nitro officials who want to make the city's most prominent business exempt from a county smoking ban. Officials at Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center say the ban, which started in July 2008, is bad for business.

Nitro, which straddles the border between Kanawha and Putnam counties, is looking at the possibility of cutting ties with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and linking up with health officials in Putnam County, where a similar smoking ban was rescinded two years ago.

The Putnam County Health Department already has responsibility for the one-third or so of Nitro that lies within county borders, and city officials say a complete switchover makes sense.

"We're serving two masters right now," Nitro City Recorder Rita Cox said.

The plan, which Nitro officials began discussing this month and plan to present to the Putnam County Commission in October, wouldn't affect other areas of town life administered by Kanawha County. Students who go to class in Kanawha schools would continue to do so. The idea is simply to switch health departments, and officials are candid about the reasoning.

"They allow smoking in Putnam County," Nitro Mayor Rusty Casto said.

Nitro officials have tried other strategies to assist the casino, which employs about 800 people, in evading the smoking ban. Last month, the City Council passed an ordinance allowing smoking in designated areas at the track, but the ordinance won't take effect until after a court steps in.

The new proposal has raised eyebrows even among observers familiar with a city whose distinctive political culture has in recent years included a dispute over a World War I-era tank and allegations that one city councilman impersonated another while sending nude photos over the Internet.

"I don't think it's a logical or plausible thing to do," Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said. "Why Putnam County? Why not Wirt County or Mingo County? Do you get to pick which county has jurisdiction over you?"

State law seems to permit municipalities in more than one county to choose which county's health board has jurisdiction, if there's no municipal health board. Officials are seeking clarification from the state Attorney General's Office.

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GOOD FOR YOU NITRO! I'M FINALLY BEHIND YOU 100% !

See? Even Nitro can do the right thing from time to time! It really IS silly to have to waste time dealing with more than one county enforcement agency.

Afan.. Nitro is currently only answering to and dealing with the Kanawha Charleston Health Department - and thusly KING KENT CARPER...

It makes sense for Nitro to go with Putnam County... I for one would like them to be totally incorporated into Putnam County... It would be a win / win for Putnam County and Nitro...

Putnam County would get the Video Lottery and Table Game revenue currently being taken in by Kanawha County and KING KENT and the city would not have to deal with Kanawha County mini dictator Kent...