By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Rental housing inspections by someone other than landlords got a new lease on life Monday evening, when Bowling Green Mayor Mike Aspacher voiced his support for third party inspections.
Aspacher has long acknowledged that some rental housing in the city does not meet standards – and that it’s the city’s responsibility to address the issue.
But he previously gave City Council the instructions that the issue should be handled without expanding city staff, without putting the city in legal jeopardy, and without adding layers of bureaucracy.
“I continue to believe there is a value to having a program that is reasonable,” Aspacher said to council.
But he has also come to believe that third party inspections would be beneficial – rather than just self-inspections by landlords.
So the mayor has asked the city staff to begin a detailed analysis of how a rental housing inspection program might work. The analysis is expected to be completed before next year’s budget is written, he said.
The staff will also look at the existing city contracts dealing with housing. The use of police division staff, who are currently charged with handling civil infractions, will also be studied.
Also at the meeting, Aspacher recognized the National Tractor Pulling Championships this week in Bowling Green – “Pulltown USA.”
“It was a big blow to our community,” when the event was canceled last year due to COVID, Aspacher said. “We’re thankful that the tractor pullers and all their volunteers are able to hold it again this year.”
In other business, council member Greg Robinette talked about the importance of city efforts to update its zoning code over the next few months. He mentioned a recent zoning board of appeals meeting, when sign variances were granted with questionable hardships being described.
“If variances are the norm, not the exception, what’s the point,” Robinette said.
“We must spend time and energy to get the zoning code right,” he said.
Also at the meeting, council voted on a resolution requesting Congress and the president to provide leadership and coordinate with state and local governments on Lake Erie watershed protection and restoration.
The lone “no” vote came from Robinette, who said the state’s H2Ohio program is already taking care of the problems.
“I believe it to be wholly unnecessary,” and adding another layer of bureaucracy to the issue, Robinette said.
Council President Mark Hollenbaugh thanked Director of Public Services Joe Fawcett and Sustainability Coordinator Amanda Gamby for their efforts to add language to the resolution showing the impact of water quality on city residents.
In other business:
- Fawcett explained that the East Wooster Street paving project is delayed because the contractor awarded the bid for the project doesn’t have an ODOT-approved asphalt mix.
- Council passed a resolution honoring Sue Clark, who recently retired as executive director of the Bowling Green Community Development Foundation.
- Council voted unanimously to add Juneteenth as a holiday for city employees.
- A public hearing will be held Sept. 20, at 6:45 p.m., for an ordinance vacating a portion of Oak Street between the library and proposed city building.
- A public hearing will be held Sept. 7, at 6:45 p.m., for an ordinance vacating an alley at 615 N. Grove St., between West Merry and West Evers streets.
