By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Council discussed legislation for planes, trains – and party bikes Monday evening.
Bowling Green City Council heard a new resolution authorizing the city to participate in the financial and economic analysis of the Toledo-Columbus Corridor Study for passenger rail.
Toledo City Council and the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments are funding a concept analysis to consider passenger rail routes. Bowling Green City Council recently passed its own legislation supporting the study of passenger rail through Bowling Green.
It was then reported to city officials that adding a financial, cost benefit, and economic analysis to the project would be beneficial. The analysis will assess the operating and capital costs for the project, and develop an assessment of the operating ratio and the financial return of the project.
Bowling Green will put $5,000 toward the analysis.
As for planes, City Council approved an ordinance authorizing an agreement between the city and the Wood County Regional Airport Authority.
Back in 1974, council enacted the first ordinance allowing the city to share in the operational costs at the airport. Each year, the amount of city support is established with the airport authority. The subsidy set for 2022 is $30,000 – the same amount budgeted in 2021.
And for party bikes, City Council briefly discussed the proposal for a pedal party bike business in Bowling Green. Last month, Joe Steinmetz, of Tiffin, introduced the idea of a “party bike,” which he described as an “oversized golf cart.”
The Tiffin Pedal Company, which has operated in that community for four seasons, calls itself an entertainment service that features a 15-seat party bike.
Bowling Green Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter sent a letter to City Council members last week about the party bike proposal. It was suggested that the bike end operations at 10 p.m. – the same time that the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area wraps up.
Council member Jeff Dennis said he spoke with the owner of the party bike business, who said he would like the bike operations to extend to 11 p.m.
Tretter said that could be done, but added, “We are also concerned about operations after dark.”
Council President Mark Hollenbaugh asked that City Solicitor Mike Marsh draw up legislation, so a hearing could be held by the transportation and safety committee of council.
The bikes are used for occasions like bachelor/bachelorette parties, bar crawls, birthdays, anniversaries, and beer/wine tastings. The service also partners with local businesses for specialty rides like town history tours, birthday parties for kids, stops at local eateries, plus ice cream or park crawls.
There are 10 pedaling bike seats that supply the power for the bike to move, and two non pedaling bike seats located over the back tire. There is also a back bench that can hold two more people for a total of 14 on the bike at one time.
The bike company supplies the driver.
In Tiffin, the passengers aged 21 and older are allowed to have alcohol on the bike legally. The customers bring their own alcoholic drinks, which are limited to beer or wine. Each person is allowed 36 ounces of beer and 18 ounces of wine on the bike at one time. If riders run out, they can restock at stops along the way.
City of Tiffin officials have been supportive, Steinmetz said.
There are no traffic laws prohibiting the 15-seat bikes, and the drivers pull over when traffic is backing up behind the bikes, he said.
Also at Monday’s meeting, officials praised city workers for handling the snow and ice storm last week.
“That’s quite a punch old man winter threw at us last week,” Mayor Mike Aspacher said.
The mayor credited public works crews for keeping the roads clear.
“They worked around the clock,” he said.
And he credited the police division for keeping local residents on “snow streets” from getting tickets and having their vehicles towed. Police officers located owners of vehicles that were parked on “snow streets,” and helped them move their vehicles. Officers “rising to the occasion” resulted in no cars being ticketed or towed.
Tretter talked about how major snowstorms affect far more than the city’s road crews.
“All city operations are impacted,” she said.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Lindsay Jo Durham and Miranda Douglas introduced the non-profit organization of BGO Pride to City Council. The group advocates for the local LGBTQ community.
“We’re really trying to reach out to the LGBTQ community of Wood County and Bowling Green,” Douglas said. The group organizes events like potlucks and hiking activities.
“Hopefully I can make the city proud and help the community,” Douglas said.
Durham urged City Council to support the organization.
“I encourage you all to become involved,” she said.
In other business, Utilities Director Brian O’Connell introduced Jim Odneal as the city’s new assistant utilities director. Daryl Stockburger retired from that position.
