By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Both candidates running for the Fourth Ward City Council seat – Bill Herald and Sandy Rowland – have a wealth of experience serving the Bowling Green community.
They are both incumbents on council – Herald serving 12 years as the Fourth Ward representative, and Rowland serving 10 years as an at-large representative.
The Fourth Ward covers the northwest quadrant of Bowling Green.
Republican Bill Herald, a data scientist at First Solar, is accustomed to tracking numbers. He cites his commitment to the community in the more than 450 hours he spent on council matters last year, the 46 quarterly meetings he’s held for Fourth Ward residents, the more than 2,000 doors he’s knocked on this year, and the more than 2,000 city-related meetings he’s attended.
Familiar face at meetings
Herald prides himself in being a responsive liaison between citizens and city government.
“I want to be the person who rolls up his sleeves to get the work done,” he said.
He is chair of council’s transportation and safety committee, chair of the sidewalk commission, and member of the community investment committee.
In the last quarter century, even when he wasn’t serving on council, Herald was a regular face at the twice monthly meetings. He attends city zoning, planning, parks and human relations commission meetings.
“I’m trying to in every sphere of my job go above and beyond,” he said.
“I try to be an alternative to the craziness in Washington and Columbus.”
If re-elected, his priorities include safety, neighborhood revitalization, plus improvements to streets, sidewalks and drainage issues.
Complete Streets
Herald has been the driving force for a multi-use path linking the Cogan’s Crossing housing development, on the north edge of the city, to the rest of the community. The 100-plus homes have no safe way to walk or bicycle into the city, he said.
“That’s why I championed it, and I’m pleased it’s moving in the right direction,” he said. “I’ll be very pleased when it’s done.”
Herald has not been a proponent of bike accommodations in the city when they could eliminate on-street parking. Disruptions to neighborhoods and safety must be top considerations, he said.
Herald attends the bicycle safety commission meetings, “so I can understand where they are coming from.”
He is hopeful a study being conducted by Mannik & Smith will give the city some direction on how bicycles can best be accommodated.
“This cannot be approached superficially,” he said. “We have to take a look at each area on its own. We are retrofitting.”
Rental housing
Herald was one of the City Council committee members to hold public meetings on the rental housing legislation that was recently approved.
“I’m pleased that we’re tackling it,” he said. “It’s a significant step.”
The ordinance strikes a middle ground, he said. “It increases safety, but it’s not draconian.”
Herald had proposed an audit component to the rental inspections, but that was left out due to concerns about the legality of random inspections.
Though he lives on the west side of Bowling Green, Herald often attends meetings of the East Side Neighborhood Association, which has pushed for measures to improve safety of rental units.
“We have to deal with it. This legislation is going to be a good solid first step,” he said.
Sustainability
Herald supports green energy efforts by the city, and initiated the restructuring of council to create a sustainability committee. “That will help us get ready for tackling issues in the future,” he said.
Herald noted that he was on council when the city started its curbside recycling program.
“The character of this community is that we are green. We are friendly to recycling and sustainability,” he said.
When residents with rooftop solar systems voiced concerns about fees set by the board of public utilities for home solar panels, Herald suggested that city council offer a tax credit for rooftop solar.
“Pragmatically, council can’t change the utility board’s policy. But as council members, we can have a tax credit,” said Herald, who pointed out that his employer, First Solar, doesn’t market panels for residential use.
COVID Precautions
When City Council voted to unanimously enact a city-wide mask mandate in the summer of 2020, Herald supported the decision.
“Given where we were – yes,” he said, with the condition that some exemptions be granted and an emphasis that the mandate was temporary.
Herald said he received more than 100 emails from citizens about the mask mandate – with 86% in favor of the requirement.
Growth
Herald supports “proper economic development” in Bowling Green.
When the city offers incentives to manufacturers and other businesses, caution must be taken to make sure they are right for the community.
“We want to have a good fit,” he said.
The city’s zoning update should help.
“It’s past due. I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I’m hoping it makes it easier for manufacturers and businesses to figure out they want to be here.”
Democrat Sandy Rowland is a Realtor, and serves as chair of council’s park and recreation committee. As an at-large council member, she connects with the community through her involvement in groups like League of Women Voters, Welcome BG, LaConexion, BRAVE, and the East Side Neighborhood Association.
She worked closely with LaConexion recently to add a whistleblower clause to the city’s anti-discrimination ordinances.
“I love solving problems for residents,” she said.
“We want to be welcoming, no matter your color or country you came from.”
Finish what’s been started
After a decade in office, Rowland has some projects she wants to see through to completion.
On that list is the development of the Gateway District on East Wooster Street between the university and downtown, the zoning update, and the construction of a new city administration building.
“Which is sorely needed,” she said.
“I want to complete the things we have already started in Bowling Green,” she said. “I know what is going on and I want to be a part of those very important changes.”
During her terms on council, Rowland cited the city’s achievements, including creating the Wooster Green, adding park acreage as well as the community pool and new Veterans’ Building, making improvements to the downtown, and getting through COVID.
“And through it all we kept our finances in order, in spite of the downtimes we had,” she said.
Lack of housing
As a Realtor, Rowland sees the need for affordable and suitable housing in Bowling Green. That lack of housing is stunting the city’s growth, she said.
“We need to build more houses, condos and villas,” she said. “We need better apartments for married and retired people.”
More housing and a better public transportation system would make Bowling Green more appealing to economic development, according to Rowland.
The city already offers perks like low electric rates, quality water, and a good location. But it is missing reasonably priced housing for new residents.
“We lack living space for people who want to live and work here,” she said.
Rowland suggested the city look into programs reducing tax rates on builders constructing new homes.
She is hopeful that the city’s zoning update will help spur economic development.
“It will make it easier for businesses and homeowners to thrive,” she said. “It’s going to enrich our community. We won’t be losing out on opportunities.”
Rental housing
Rowland supported the recently adopted rental housing registration and inspection ordinance.
Citizens have been asking for a reporting mechanism for unsafe rental homes for 40 years, she said. The new legislation would include independent inspections if a tenant reports that the self-inspection was not accurate.
“As a Realtor, I have been in many houses that are for sale that are rentals,” she said. “Yes, there are problems with safety. I know they are out there.”
Rowland favored the landlord self-inspection provision – with the tenants being encouraged to report problems. With an estimated 7,200 rental housing units in the city, the only way to get a program up and running is with self-inspections, she said.
“All we have to do is tell tenants to let us know” if there are safety issues with the rentals, she said.
Not done yet
On Rowland’s list of issues that still need to be resolved in Bowling Green are accommodations for bicyclists. Bike lanes and other provisions are cost-prohibitive in most cases, so education may be the best effort for now.
“Drivers need to be made fully aware that it’s a state law that they give the bikes a full lane,” she said.
Sustainability
Rowland listed off the city sustainability efforts, including getting 40% of its energy from green sources, having a 165-acre solar field, buying 35% of its power from hydro, planting 7,600 city trees, having 125 acres of nature preserve, working toward a police fleet of hybrid cars, and having a sustainability director.
“Sustainability is more than green energy,” she said.
“We’re far from perfect, but we truly can say we are doing the best we can,” she said.
The city supplies healthy drinking water and sustainable wastewater processing, she said. And every department head is working on ways to make their offices more sustainable.
“Sustainability is very important to me,” she said.
COVID precautions
Rowland supported the mask mandate passed by City Council in the summer of 2020.
“Our community did a great job, keeping people safe,” she said.
Rowland also praised the fire and police divisions for helping businesses meet safety standards and remain open during the pandemic.
