The city has proposed a 20-year contract with the Bowling Green County Club.
At Monday’s meeting, city council introduced an ordinance authorizing Mayor Mike Aspacher to enter into a lease agreement with the Bowling Green Country Club.
According to the legislative package document prepared for council, the current lease between the city and the country club expires on Dec. 31.
“After a series of negotiation meetings with representatives from Bowling Green Country Club, Inc., the administration is comfortable with the extension of the lease. … The timing of this lease is reflective of on-going discussions at Bowling Green Country Club to make significant capital investment in their facilities. This lease extension will bolster confidence in their consideration of incurring debt,” according to the legislative packet.
According to the proposed agreement, the lease would be for 20 years, with the country club paying $3,600 annually in rent.
Also at the meeting, council:
• Introduced an ordinance authorizing Utilities Director Brian O’Connell to enter into a contract with Aclara regarding an updated automated meter reading system.
According to the legislative package document, for years, the city has used the Aclara TWACS power line carrier system to read electric meter and water meter data but city staff have experienced significant issues with that system, resulting in having to manually input meter data which defeats the purpose of using an automated meter reading system and introduces the possibility of human error.
The city recommends converting to a new Aclara software system, starting in 2025. The cost for the conversion would be $80,000, with an annual cost thereafter of $60,000. The current yearly cost is $43,020 but, the document states, “while this is higher than the current annual fee, the advantages of the (new system) justify the higher annual fee.”
• Heard from Taylor Ramos, of Visit BG Ohio, who noted that the organization has published the 2025-2026 edition of BG Magazine which, she said, covers local attractions, events and businesses.
• Heard from resident Jim Evans, who spoke in favor of the city’s climate action and resiliency plan, which was discussed at a meeting held Aug. 5.
“American villages, towns and even cities the size of Bowling Green are being wiped off the map,” Evans said, referring to catastrophic weather occurrences and fires. He said he hopes the plan “is a wake-up call for this community.”
