Patrons eat at 3-H Cattle Company, a non-smoking establishment.

The 3-H Cattle Company in Elgin may be popular for its fried chicken and friendly service, but it has one other feature that makes it stand out.

"We're the only non-smoking restaurant in Elgin," restaurant manager Suzanne Turner said.

In January, the restaurant put its ashtrays away for cleaner air because they said customers had complained.

They had their reservations -- and not the dinner kind.

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	Elgin The ban is currently on the table, not yet in effect.

"We thought it was going to hurt our business but it's done nothing but improve it," Turner said.

So now along with a home cooked meal, a new smoking ban is on the table.

Elgin City Manager Jeff Coffee said Elgin will make its decisions based on the greater good.

"We're our own town, and we're going to make our decision based on what's best for our community," Coffee said.

	The Elgin city manager says they're going to make decisions based on what's best for the community.

But some smoking ban opponents like David Hebel said the government shouldn't be the one to know what's best for business owners.

"They can do whatever they want and if you don't want to smoke or be around smoke, don't go visit that particular establishment," Hebel said.

Other smoking ban supporters like Audrey Schultz said the city should follow what the majority of paying customers want.

"You've got someone at the next table puffing away and you're trying to eat a nice meal and that's not healthy for you," Schultz said.

For now, Elgin's discussion on a smoking ban is limited to restaurants, and that's because Elgin city leaders said it's better to make big changes in small doses.

"We probably ought to wade in to it and see how it goes before we jump in to it head first," Coffee said.

And taking slow steps in to the discussion is just what city leaders will start doing.

Big change in small towns could be a lengthy processes, but in Elgin, it's about to start.