Supporters of a clean-air ordinance in St Joseph have submitted petions bearing 2,800 signatures to the City Clerk’s Office.

The petitions submitted by Clear Air St Joe are now being examined by the County Clerk, and if 2,190 of those signatures are certified, the measure will go to the City Council.

“They canadopt it within sixty days as the petition committee submitted it,” said City Clerk Paula Heyde,” “or if they fail to adopt it within the sixty days they will submit it to voters.”

Heyde says there is a deadline in January for any ballot initiative to be considered during the April election next year.

The City Council voted not to consider any smoking ban after officials at St Joe Frontier Casino objected. The ordinance as written includes an exception for the gaming floor of the casino. It also allows smoking in 10% of hotel rooms, and at private clubs with no employees present.