Residents wanted to talk about a workplace smoking ban in Chippewa Falls and a proposed sand mine in Chippewa County. But the Chippewa Falls City Council took no action on either topic Tuesday night.

The council did approve the minutes of last Thursday’s city Transportation Committee, which oversees public safety issues. But that committee took no action on the smoking issue.

An Eau Claire tavern owner, Julie Johnson, said a smoking ban that took effect July 1 has had a drastic effect on business at the 5 O’Clock Club. The tavern on Fenwick Avenue is across the street from Altoona, which allows smoking in taverns.

“Our business as of this weekend has gone down 25 percent. And it’s only going to go down further,” Johnson predicted.

Former council member Chuck Hull told the council that the Transportation Committee is stalling taking action.

“My concern is that (the committee) is not really addressing the issue,” said Hull, who favors a workplace smoking ban.

Jeanette Kelly told the council she opposed the proposed sand mine. Part of the operation would be near her home on Pine Acre Lane.

“We thought we had a great location. Now, suddenly, this is going to be threatened,” she said.

The city’s Plan Commission will hold a public hearing Monday, Aug. 11 on a plan for the city to form tax incremental district No. 11 for the sand mine project.

A TID or TIF (tax incremental financing) is a redevelopment tool for cities. It uses future gains in taxes to finance current improvements.

For more on Tuesday’s meeting, see Wednesday’s printed edition of The Chippewa Herald.