By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Don’t put your masks away after Halloween.
Bowling Green City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to extend the city’s mandatory mask ordinance until Dec. 31.
When the ordinance was adopted in July – before the state settled on a mask mandate – City Council heard voices on both sides of the issue. The ordinance was set to expire on Oct. 31.
On Monday, when Council President Mark Hollenbaugh suggested an extension through the remainder of 2020, there was no hesitation.
“I believe given the current situation, it would be advantageous to extend that date,” Hollenbaugh said.
Council will then reassess the ordinance again in December.
“In keeping with the eternal optimist in me – that we can start the new year without masks,” Hollenbaugh said.
Council member Neocles Leontis pointed out that the number of COVID cases in Wood County grew in May and June, before leveling off once the mask mandate was issued. The numbers are again rising with the return of BGSU students.
“It’s very important that we keep this going,” Leontis said.
The median age of newly infected people is decreasing – from 59 in June to 32 now. And the number of active cases is increasing especially in BG, which now has almost 80% of active cases in the county.
Council member John Zanfardino agreed.
“It’s clear this needs to be extended,” he said.
Hollenbaugh praised the BG Police Division for its efforts to educate the public and enforce COVID rules. While some cities struggle to get people to wear masks, in Bowling Green the issue is whether or not they are being worn correctly.
“They have been instrumental in keeping us safe,” Hollenbaugh said.
Council heard from Frank McLaughlin about the Wood County Health Department levy on the Nov. 3 ballot. The 0.5-mill renewal levy supports just over one-quarter of the health department’s services.
“The services are extensive,” he said, listing off such programs as restaurant inspections, nutritional programs, septic system inspections, plus health and dental services.
Then 2020 brought COVID-19, which added so much more responsibility for public health. Leontis asked if a levy renewal will be enough, considering the inadequate funding for public health.
McLaughlin, the levy chairman, said Ohio is among the bottom five states in the U.S. in terms of support for its health departments.
“Maybe we should be thinking as a community of better funding public health,” Leontis said.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, Mayor Mike Aspacher reported that a “community reads” project is being planned by the city’s Human Relations Commission, Not In Our Town, and BGSU. The book is “So You Want to Talk About Race.”
“I’m really excited about this event in our community,” Aspacher said. “I think it’s important we as a community are having these type of conversations.”
Online registration information will be released when available.
Council member Bill Herald said he recently completed the book and would recommend it, noting that it offers a perspective that many in Bowling Green don’t have experience with. He complimented the mayor for donating to buy copies of the book for the community reads project.
Also at the meeting:
- Council member Greg Robinette recommended that marketing efforts should begin for the “Gateway Zoning” area between downtown and campus.
- Hollenbaugh suggested that a council committee of the whole meeting be held soon to pick up efforts to license and register rental properties. The effort was paused when COVID-19 hit.
- A sidewalk committee meeting was set for Oct. 13, at 6 p.m.
- A transportation and safety meeting for the discussion of bike sharrows will be held Oct .13, at 5:15 p.m. Another transportation and safety meeting was scheduled for Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m.
- Ruth Babel-Smith, a candidate for Wood County Sheriff, also attended the meeting, and assured City Council that if elected, she would make sure the sheriff’s office would provide support for BG police when needed. Babel-Smith also said she would participate in groups like Not In Our Town. “We need to dispense with some of the negativity in our world right now.”
