Police and fire personnel were recognized at a recent Bowling Green City Council meeting.
At its Oct. 16 meeting, Mayor Mike Aspacher administer the oath of office to two Bowling Green Police Division officers, Caleb Kusmieirek and Ryan Selhorst, who were promoted to the rank of sergeant.
Aspacher also recognized the Bowling Green Fire Division for being awarded the Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold with Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll Award from the American Heart Association. The fire division has received four Mission: Lifeline awards since 2020.
Aspacher noted that “this award is in recognition of the division’s efforts to comply with American Heart Association recommendations for response associated with cardiac arrest events. It’s a really significant award, it takes a significant amount of time and effort and compliance to policies and procedures.”
Lt. Brandon Westerman of the BGFD spoke on the criteria for the award and the efforts undertaken for heart attack and stroke victims.
“The ladies and gentlemen over at the fire division are doing a great job there,” he said.
Also at the meeting, council:
• Heard Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter recognize Human Resources Director Barbara Ford, who, she noted, will be retiring at the end of the month after 40 years of service to the city.
“Barb has been a tremendous asset for this organization,” Tretter said.
• Introduced an ordinance establishing a tax increment financing (TIF) area for the Abbott Labs project. According to the legislative package document prepared for council, “TIF is a tool used by Ohio political subdivisions… and private companies to fund infrastructure and site improvements. TIF captures the increase in assessed value of real property and diverts the tax revenues into a special fund to be used for ‘public infrastructure improvements.’ This definition is broad and includes things such as public roads and highways; water and sewer lines; environmental remediation; land acquisition; and demolition.”
• Introduced an ordinance to change the zoning for approximately 1.57 acres on South Dunbridge Road from A-1 Agricultural to IE Innovation & Employment Zoning. The applicant is Ryan A. Rothenbuhler, agent, on behalf of property owner Vicki L. Frobose. According to the legislative package document, the owner wishes to construct a veterinary clinic on the property. A public hearing for the matter was set for Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
• Introduced an ordinance to make two changes to the new zoning code. According to the legislative package document, the first change is to require patios to be located a minimum of 3 feet from the property lines, rather than the current requirement of the minimum required setbacks of the applicable zone or district (for example, the same setbacks as to where a house can be located). Staff requests, additionally, a provision that patios cannot be located in a utility easement. The second changes relate to parking, and would make changes, in part, to allow off-street parking in the front yard areas in the Interstate Commerce District and Innovation & Employment Zone. A public hearing for the matter was set for Nov. 20 at 6:45 p.m.
• Introduced an ordinance creating Section 99.21 of the codified ordinances regarding managed natural landscape. According to the legislative package document, this ordinance recognizes the environmental and storm water management benefits of natural landscape areas and then outlines requirements for managed natural landscapes. Among the requirements, such landscapes may include plants and grasses in excess of 8 inches in height and which have gone to seed but may not include any noxious weeds and must be maintained as to not include unintended vegetation or turf grass and may not include any plantings, which due to location and manner of growth constitute a hazard to the public or may cause injury or damage to person or property when such growth is in violation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
• Decided, by a vote of 4-2, to hold a Finance Committee meeting to discuss Ordinance 9131, which received its second reading Monday night. The ordinance, proposed by Councilman Jeff Dennis, would create a new section in Chapter 35 of the city’s codified ordinances to refine the process for determining the lowest and best bid on public improvement projects. Finance Committee Chair Greg Robinette asked that the meeting be held, in part, to learn why the ordinance is deemed necessary. Dennis and Councilman Nick Rubando voted against Robinette’s proposal. The Finance Committee meeting was set for Dec. 4 at 6 p.m.
