By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In a profession where timing can be the difference between life and death, Bowling Green Fire Division got confirmation Tuesday from voters that it’s time for some changes.
By a vote of 3,329 (68%) to 1,563 (32%), city residents passed a 0.15% income tax levy to build two new fire stations and decrease emergency response times in the community.
“I want to thank the community for supporting us,” BG Fire Chief Bill Moorman said as off-duty firefighters and city leaders gathered Tuesday evening. “It’s going to be great for everyone in Bowling Green – especially in terms of response times.”
This is the first fire levy attempted in the 31 years Moorman has been with the fire division, the last seven years as chief.
Moorman praised the city’s firefighters/paramedics for providing quality services to residents. “They are really dedicated to the community. They know that this is good for the community.”
Mayor Mike Aspacher also thanked citizens for their votes.
“I’m very grateful the community supported this initiative,” Aspacher said. “We’re very mindful of the fact this is a challenging time for people’s budgets.”
But keeping fire and EMS response times down in the expanding community is essential, the mayor added.
“The need is real. The need is significant based on our community growth,” he said, adding that growth of the city means more responsibilities for city government.
“Improved response time – that’s always been our primary motivation,” Aspacher said.
The number of fire and EMS calls have tripled in 30 years, from 1,095 calls for service in 1992, to 3,418 calls in 2022. The number is expected to hit 4,000 this year.
The 0.15% income tax increase will cost approximately $75 a year for those with a family income of $50,000.
“I think it’s a good investment,” Aspacher said.
As a member of the Fire/EMS Levy Committee, former mayor Dick Edwards spoke in favor of the ballot issue.
“We know all too well that the difference between life and death in a fire/EMS emergency is often measured in minutes, sometimes seconds,” Edwards said at a recent council meeting. “The goal in BG is always to reach most citizens in four minutes or less, and this levy will help to make that optimal response time possible for nearly 90% of the homes in BG.”
The city’s plan is to cease using the Court Street fire station due to multiple deficiencies, continue using the Pearl Street station on the city’s west side, build a satellite fire station at Carter Park on the east side, and build a new northern station and headquarters on Newton Road.
The city entered into a gift and purchase agreement for a site on Newton Road, just to the east of the BG Community Center. Under the agreement, the city will pay the current owners, Robert and Patricia Maurer, $240,000 for the 4.26-acre site. The property had an appraised market value of $639,000, but the Maurers agreed to gift a portion of the property to the city.
Using software models that measure response times anywhere in the city, it was determined the proposed northern site would meet current needs and future needs as Bowling Green expands northward.
The projected cost of building and equipping the two new stations will be in the ballpark of $30 million. That includes $14.7 million for the headquarters station, $10.5 for the satellite station, $2.5 million for an aerial ladder truck, and $2 million for other fire and ambulance equipment.
For years, city leaders have been discussing the condition of the Court Street Fire Station, and the desire to decrease emergency response time in the city. Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter has said that a report in December on the unsafe conditions at the Court Street fire station was a “wake-up call” to the city.
With the levy passing, city officials hope to begin construction on the two new stations in 2026, with the goal to have them operational in 2027.
