WINTON – No smoking may be a way of life in Hertford County soon.

Hertford County Manager Loria D. Williams has been notified by the Hertford County Public Health Authority that the latter intends to at least explore the possibility of using authority recently granted by the North Carolina General Assembly.

In a letter from Health Director Curtis Dickson, Williams was informed the health authority is proposing a county rule to prohibit the use of tobacco in all local government buildings effective January 1, 2008.

The rule would ban the use of tobacco in:

* buildings that are owned by Hertford County or any municipality within Hertford County;

* buildings that are leased as lessor by the county or any municipality within the county;

* buildings or areas of buildings that are leased as lessee and occupied by the county or any municipality within the county;

* public transportation vehicles used by the public and owned or leased by the county or any municipality within the county; and

* the grounds of any building housing one or more components of Hertford County Public Health Authority or the Hertford County Department of Social Services.

According to Dickson, a public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the conference room of the public health authority in Winton.

At that meeting, all citizens of Hertford County can offer the input and voice any concerns they may have about the prospective rule.

The Hertford County Commissioners were made aware of the possible change Monday evening during their regular meeting, but did not offer any reaction to the plan.