FITCHBURG, Wis. -- A Fitchburg alderman wants to follow Madison's lead and enact a smoking ban in city restaurants.

Some Fitchburg businesses are worried, but Alderman Richard Bloomquist said his idea isn't meant to put anyone out of business. He just wants the city up to what he calls a trend of the future.

"There are people who don't go to Fitchburg restaurants because they don't want to deal with secondhand smoke, that's part of the reason for doing this," he said.

Bloomquist said a smoking ban would help level the playing field with Madison, but Fitchburg Mayor Tom Clauder said he is worried it could tear apart the rest of the county.

"They'll say we're going someplace else -- to Monona or Middleton -- and that's not that far," Clauder said.

If an ordinance is drafted, Clauder said he's talking to neighboring communities and making sure there are exemptions. Bloomquist said he will support exemptions -- unlike Madison, which did not allow exemptions even for cigar bars.

Bloomquist said he hopes to have the ordinance in place within three to four months, but he has nothing written yet.

Fitchburg's Ten Pun Alley owner, Bill Pounders Jr., said he hopes the ban will be gradual.

"Our clientele is our bread and butter, and if we can't have certain clientele then why are we in business," Pounders said. "If we have no smoking on the lanes, that's fine, but let us have smoking in the bar so people who want to smoke can smoke in the bar. And people who want to sit out there where there's no smoking -- you have the best of both worlds."

Bloomquist said he believes all areas will have smoking bans within 10 years.

July 21: Informational Meeting

There will be an informational meeting and hearing on the topic July 21 at the Fitchburg City Hall at 9 a.m.

Businesses and the public are encouraged to attend.