PROVO — Three Utah County cities have adopted no smoking ordinances for the outdoors, including parks and other city properties, while the county board of health is considering a county-wide ordinance.

The Salem City Council just adopted its ordinance, which bans smoking in public outdoor places, such as parks, the city cemetery, bus stops and mass gatherings, City Recorder Jeff Nielson said. The new law goes into effect Nov. 1.

Orem and Springville officials recently adopted similar ordinances prohibiting outdoor smoking in their communities, said Eric Edwards, director of health promotion for the health department.

A public hearing for the county-wide ordinance is Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. in the Utah County Health and Justice Building, 151 S. University Ave.

Mapleton leaders have discussed the issue but are taking a "wait and see" stance to see what the county does, according to City Manager Bob Bradshaw. The council takes up the issue again at its Oct. 15 meeting.

State law prohibits smoking inside public buildings and many buildings with public access.

— Rodger L. Hardy