A Utah County board of health proposal to eliminate smoking in public parks is moving forward, but some are raising questions about who will enforce the measure.

The board is proposing to eliminate smoking in all public parks and near "mass gatherings" -- a congregation of at least 100 people gathered outdoors for at least two hours -- under threat of a $25 fine the first time and $100 on subsequent offenses. While the measure appears to be gaining widespread support among the county's elected leaders, some are apprehensive that city police would be called on to enforce a rule mandated by the county.

"I think it's really easy to pass an ordinance," said Chris Sorensen, board member and Nebo School District superintendent. "I'd hate for us to tell [cities] to buy into it and then for them not to."

Partly at issue is compensation: Cities enforce county rules about tobacco and alcohol sales, but receive financial incentive from the county to do so, said County Commissioner Steve White, another board member.

And with some cities responsible for hundreds of acres of parks and golf courses, it could become an undue burden on local authorities, said board Chairman Rulon Barlow. But, he suggested, it's likely most of the work would fall on the shoulders of residents.

"That's where the enforcement is really going to be," he said. "If it's really important to them, they're going to say something."

Jen Tischler, a health educator with the county's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, is coordinating the drive behind the proposal. Over the summer she's undertaken a whirlwind tour of public entities to pitch the idea, including presentations to the city councils of Orem, Springville, Mapleton and Salem. She said that in two recent Council of Governments meetings, the vast majority of mayors favored a countywide change. Only Eagle Mountain Mayor Heather Jackson opposed the idea, preferring to allow cities to establish their own rules over submitting to a regional one, Tischler said. Others had concerns of varying degrees over details but liked the idea, she said.

Jackson did not return a phone call for comment.

Tischler said a second financial commitment from cities -- buying and posting signs advertising the law in every public park -- would be taken care of by the county with the help of a state grant. It's important to make the change as palatable as possible for member cities to ease the transition, she said.

"All the feedback we've had has been very positive," she said. "[Residents] should be able to go to the park without having to leave because someone is smoking."

• Ace Stryker can be reached at 344-2556 or astryker@heraldextra.com.