ANDERSON, Ind. -- A Madison County group hopes Indianapolis' efforts to broaden its smoking ban will light a fire under city and county officials.

Healthy, Tobacco-Free Madison County Executive Director Karesa Knight-Wilkerson said that although a smoking ban failed in Anderson two years ago, the proposal could get new life.

“I don’t think it’s that they don’t care, I just think that the right people haven’t gotten to the elected officials yet,” she said.

Wilkerson said she thinks that the addition of the Hoosier Park casino to the community is a major stumbling block to the city embracing smoking restrictions.

Owners of Lucy’s, a mom and pop restaurant on the outskirts of Anderson, said they aren’t ready for a ban either.

Lonnie Smith's restaurant does not have a non-smoking section.

“I don’t think it will ever pass here. We’d lose business for a while, but then you don’t know how much you’d get back,” Smith said.

His wife, Lucy, is a heavy smoker, but said she thinks an ordinance would make the community healthier.

"I can't say it's a bad idea really, because smoking is not a good thing," she said.

Richard Wiley, chairman of the Anderson Public Safety Board, said the community has larger problems than smoking.

“We’ve got budget problems, and we’ve got to get a tax proposal,” Wiley said.

Wilkerson said her group's strategy is to work with individual businesses and restaurants.

More Info: Drug-Free Madison County