By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green citizens voiced concerns about a park and about parking Tuesday evening to City Council.
Brenda Pike gave council a petition with 100 signatures of people asking that the city leave one parking lot downtown with meters rather than the parking kiosks.
The city has been slowly working its way toward placing kiosks in all the downtown parking lots. Pike said it just recently came to her attention that all the meters were being replaced with kiosks – which poses a problem for older residents, she added.
“Many of these folks have no understanding how these things work,” Pike said.
The kiosks are complicated, require people to walk a distance in some cases, and require motorists to remember their license plates. All this can leave older residents too “physically drained” to do any shopping downtown, Pike said.
The petition asks that the city allow one lot with parking meters, so people can visit downtown “without the hardship of navigating a kiosk system,” she said.
Pike did not elaborate on which parking lot should remain metered, since that could potentially pose problems if it is not in close proximity to the businesses the patrons wish to visit.
Pike and Sue Smith also voiced concerns about the tall grasses in Simpson Garden Park.
Smith, whose backyard abuts Simpson park, said the park has “not been pleasing” this summer since some of the grasses have been allowed to grow tall. Smith said she has sent letters to city officials concerning the grasses, but has not been satisfied with the responses.
For the first time in 16 years, she has been seeing fox in her yard, on her deck and porch.
“I have a great concern,” Smith said about the fox being a threat to pets. One neighbor, “just got their dog in in time,” she said.
Some grass in the park is two-feet tall. And while she understood that spring rains delayed mowing in the first part of the summer, that is no longer the case, Smith said.
The tall grass invites ticks and fleas, “or whatever wild animals bring,” she said. Those create risks for humans and pets in the park, she added.
“If they get bit, that can be a serious problem,” Smith said.
Pike shared Smith’s concerns. While the tall grasses are said to be “specialized grasses that are aesthetically appealing to the eyes,” Pike views them as a “safe haven” for fox, ticks and field mice.
“The health of our citizens should take precedence over grass,” she said.
The Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Board discussed the tall grass issue earlier this summer with several members of the neighborhoods by Simpson Garden Park. After that meeting, several areas of tall grasses were mowed. The board also listened to a presentation by the Wood County Health Department epidemiologist about the extremely low risks from ticks in this region.
Parks and Recreation Director Kristin Otley said the citizens who joined to create Simpson Garden Park 17 years ago have been reunited to examine the history and future of the park.
As part of the parks and recreation upcoming master planning process, citizens will also be gathering to discuss each park in the city. Council member Bill Herald asked if all the neighbors of Simpson Garden Park will be notified when the public meeting is scheduled for that site. Otley said she would make sure the meeting dates get out to all city citizens.
Citizen Frank McLaughlin also spoke to council to voice his disappointment in the tabling last month of the ordinance banning single use plastic bags. Basing the city’s actions on the state’s lack of action is a low bar, he said.
“The state of Ohio has not been incredibly supportive of sustainability,” he said.
“I’m hoping this doesn’t get lost,” McLaughlin said of the plastic bag ban ordinance. “I think it’s a small step. But small steps are how things get done. It would be a shame for it to get lost.”
McLaughlin also reminded council of the importance of continued progress on the East Wooster “white paper,” which encourages progressive development along that corridor.
During recent visits to the area near the University of Toledo campus, McLaughlin said he has noticed “remarkable” changes.
“I’m reminded of how the appearance of neighborhoods is important to a college community,” he said.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting:
- City Council approved the rental fees for the new Veterans Building in City Park.
- Council agreed to apply for ODOT congestion mitigation and air quality funds for a proposed roundabout at Dunbridge and Woodbridge roads.
- Police Chief Tony Hetrick explained that with the retiring of the city’s animal control officer, the Wood County Dog Warden will be asked to handle dog issues in the city. Members of the police division will continue to handle small nuisance animals like possums and raccoons, and dogs after normal work hours.
- Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter said a suitable surface has been placed on Main Street downtown for the Black Swamp Arts Festival this weekend. However, she added, “it is still an active construction scene.”
- Planning Director Heather Sayler reported that U.S. Census employees are canvassing local neighborhoods. They carry identification badges. “They do knock on doors” to get information, Sayler said.
- Otley reminded that the Parks and Recreation Department’s annual wine and cheese social will be Sept. 27, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Simpson Garden Building. Proceeds from the event will benefit the new shelter planned in Carter Park.
- Public Utilities Director Brian O’Connell talked about the three line crew members from Bowling Green who went to Florida to offer mutual aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.
- Public Works Director Brian Craft said the paving work is complete on the roundabouts on East Wooster at Interstate 75. Work is still being done on the sanitary sewer and water lines. When that is finished, the lighting on the overpass will be completed.
- Council member Greg Robinette said he will soon give a detailed report on planning and zoning progress along the East Wooster Street corridor.
