Photo by Eric Ayres Howard Karnell, left, marketing coordinator for the Capitol Theatre and WesBanco Arena, gives a presentation to members of the Wheeling-Ohio County Board of Health on Tuesday requesting an exemption to the public smoking rule for a proposed cigar social event this fall.

WHEELING – Members of the Wheeling-Ohio County Board of Health on Tuesday approved a one-time exemption to its smoking regulations to accommodate a cigar social event this fall on the WesBanco Arena patio.

The board cast a split vote of 4-2 to approve the measure, which was pitched by Howard Karnell, Marketing Coordinator for the Capitol Theatre and WesBanco Arena; and Wheeling City Councilman Dave Palmer, a member of the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority Board.

Health Board Chairman Dr. John Holloway and member Elisabeth Slater voted against the proposal, while fellow board members Dr. Mathew Wood, Ty Thorngate, Erik Harris and Tom Tuttle voted to approve it.

“There’s an interest in reviving a long-dormant cigar social or cigar dinner,” said Karnell, pointing to popular, biannual events that took place at the old Ernie’s Esquire years ago. “Part of my roles are marketing, sponsorship, sales and media relations, and also to expand programming to utilize all parts of the facility and to get more exposure and traffic into the facility.”

The proposed cigar social would be a one-time, private, invitation-only event. The event would be held on the northwest patio of WesBanco Arena, located near the new Heritage Port splash pad. The outdoor space would have a shade tent like the one used during the new First Friday events hosted by the arena. Food would be offered inside the arena.

The idea would be to invite local business owners to the private function and showcase the assets the arena has to offer and present the participants with sponsorship opportunities, Karnell noted. No date has been set yet, but a target for mid-September is being eyed.

“We’re always trying to get people into the arena,” Palmer added. “The idea is to bring more people in and to continually improve the arena.”

Last month, the GWSEA board approved the proposal, with conditions that included a supporting legal opinion from the city’s legal department and cooperation from the health board.

Many years ago, smoking on public property was permitted. There was a time when attendees of hockey games and concerts could escape to an outdoor patio area for a smoke. But the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department’s Clean Air Regulation changed everything in 2016. It prohibits smoking on all government property – indoor and outdoor.

Howard Gamble, administrator for the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department, noted that the rule has a couple of built-in exemptions, including LVLs (limited video lottery gaming rooms) and on the casino floor at Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack. The health board has also done some exemptions in the past.

Gamble noted that this only applies to public property, in terms of indoor events. He noted that if a private business wanted to hold a cigar social in their parking lot, they would not have to come before the health board.

“The catch is that the arena and all of that property on the riverfront is governmental property operated by a governmental board,” Gamble said.

Officials indicated that there have been similar requests for an exemption to the smoking ban at events held at Heritage Port, and they have been denied.

Wood moved to approve the one-time exemption, noting that the arena is a very controlled environment, and the invitation-only cigar social is not like events at Heritage Port.

“For the most part it’s out of public view, and it’s a closed, invitation-only event,” Wood said. “I think in the future, we can grant this on a case-by-case basis and make decisions based on the best interest of the county and the city.”

Officials stressed that this will not open the door to outdoor smoking on the arena patios during other events.

“I think that it’s fair to say that there really isn’t any precedent for this,” Holloway noted. “I think that for the protections of these regulations – which obviously I feel rather protective of – that this be done as a one-time thing and not a blanket exemption.”

Gamble added, “Keep in mind, it does open up for other requests.”