A smoking ban in La Crosse County may be right around the corner if some county leaders get their way.

"The Health and Human Services Board is considering the amount of illness and disability and death that results form Tobacco use and Tobacco exposure in the work place and is interested in protecting the health of the public,” says Doug Mormann of the La Crosse County Health Department.

Mormann says recent information gathered by the health department show toxic levels of smoke in area bars and restaurants. He says that means it's a health and safety issue.

"So many people do suffer illness and unfortunately sometimes death in exposure to second hand smoke."

But some people don't think the government should be able to tell private businesses or people where or when to smoke.

"If you're a smoker then go to where you want to smoke or you can smoke or if you don't smoke then don't go where there is smoke,” says Shaun Debruin.

Sharon Hampson is the County Health Board Chair. She says she hopes this is the first step to helping the state go smoke free.

"Its in every state around us its in half the states in the nation so we're really dragging our feet it would be nice if the state would get around to it but we just can't wait anymore,” says Hampson.

Mormann says informing people about the danger of second hand smoke is the most important issue right now.

"I think that it's very important that people understand the unnecessary death and disability that we have in La Crosse County as a result of Tobacco use,” he says.

Hampson says if the smoking ban is passed by the health board, the full County Board would have to vote on it as well as every city in the county.