Bars and gaming establishments are currently the only public places in Kanawha County where smoking is still allowed.

However, the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health will soon consider removing that exemption.

While some business owners are not happy about that prospect, health officials said they're failing to see the entire picture.

"What's happening to them has to be taken into account, but there's also the employees as well as the patrons of those establishments and we have to take their needs and their health into consideration," said Dr. Kerry Gateley, director of the health department.

The board of health plans to discuss the proposal at its meeting on Thursday.

Gateley expects public hearings to follow.