Demolition of the old Bowling Green Junior High School building has been put on hold until the city knows
the extent to which state budget cuts will affect the city budget.
Mayor John B. Quinn told city council of the decision Monday night during a budget discussion sparked by
a couple of citizen comments on city spending.
"Due to our concerns with the state budget we have decided to put it off indefinitely until we can
access the impact of state cuts on our community," the mayor said.
In comments to the BG Chamber of Commerce Trustees Friday, Quinn said state budget cuts could create a
$3.5 million shortfall in the city budget.
The city’s 2011 budget contains $500,000 to cover the cost of asbestos abatement and demolition of the
building. The city has had contract documents prepared for the demolition but has not advertised for
bids.
The $500,000 is in the city’s facility capitalization account, which was established a few years ago to
help the city save money toward large projects such as a new city building. The city has long term plans
to build a new city building on the junior high site.
Fort Drive resident Jacki Nowicki sparked the city building discussion, expressing concerns about higher
city spending and wondering why the city would spend money on demolition and building a new structure
instead of renting space for city operations. She said there is vacant office space and the city’s
renting it would help the local economy. "The city ought to be looking at privatizing and
decreasing its size. What are you doing to decrease government spending?"
Council President John Zanfardino said the city is spending less in its general fund but the city budget
is up overall because of the North Main Street project. We are shrinking (staff) by attrition and I
think that’s the preferred way."
First Ward Council Member Mark Hollenbaugh described the North Main and junior high school demolition as
"opportunity costs. We have outside money to cover most of the street project and the demolition
prepares a site for a future time."
At-Large Council Member Bob McOmber said the state budget "hangs over our heads like a sword. We
need to find out what the state is going to do. We could lose a chunk of money or lose a really big
chunk of money."
Gov. John Kasich must present a proposed 2011-2013 budget in March and the legislature must have it in
place by July 1.
"I assure that we as a body are aware of our obligation to control spending," Third Ward
Council Member Mike Aspacher said. "If we eliminate manpower it comes with a challenge to deliver
services. Citizens have become accustomed to services the city does provide such as trash collection and
snow removal."
Nathan Eberly, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Wood County, also addressed council, saying the
party’s membership and executive council opposed any additional tax for snow removal from sidewalks. A
proposal for such a tax was discussed at council’s Jan. 18 meeting but met with no acceptance that night
and was not discussed Monday beyond Eberly’s comments.
Council also:
¥ Approved a final agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the North Main Street
project. ODOT is expected to "sell" the project early this spring, which will widen and
resurface the street from Dill Street to just south of Newton Road and also rebuild the Poe Road
intersection.
¥ Learned that 57 letters were mailed Friday to property owners where snow had not been cleared from
sidewalks.
¥ Gave first reading to an ordinance to purchase a vacant lot in the 1200 block of Conneaut Avenue to
build a replacement sewer lift station.