By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green voters chose Bill Herald over Sandy Rowland for City Council. They returned Rachel Phipps, Mark Hollenbaugh and Greg Robinette. And they elected newcomers Nick Rubando and Joel O’Dorisio.
Hollenbaugh, who garnered 2,8927 votes for an at-large seat and serves as president of council, set the tone for the next City Council.
“People have lost faith in the government at the federal and state levels,” he said. “It’s important that citizens of Bowling Green have confidence in their local level of government.”
“We will keep the city moving forward and keep making progress,” Hollenbaugh said.
And services will continue as expected.
“Streets will be plowed. Lights will turn on. Toilets will flush,” Hollenbaugh said.
Herald beats Rowland
City Council will be losing one of its long-time members in Sandy Rowland, who lost the Fourth Ward race to another long-time member Bill Herald, who won 1,455 (58%) to 1,040.
All that knocking on doors paid off for Herald, who visited more than 2,000 homes while campaigning. But Herald believes his victory was not just a matter of his rapping on doors.
“I think that people thought I put the work in and earned another term,” Herald said. “I’m humbled by the support.”
Herald said he plans to continue efforts to improve neighborhoods, by working on streets, sidewalks and drainage. His goal is to improve the city’s responsiveness to citizens.
“I’m thrilled to give back to them as a council member,” he said.
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.
Herald supports green energy efforts by the city and “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.”
Rowland was disappointed in her loss, but said she still plans to work toward the betterment of Bowling Green.
“I’m going to be OK,” she said. “I will be doing a lot of volunteer work. I’m a people person.”
Rowland plans to focus on community groups she has long been involved with such as the League of Women Voters, Welcome BG, LaConexion, BRAVE, and the East Side Neighborhood Association.
“I’ll just be working to make Bowling Green a better place on weekdays” rather than her current City Council role with evening meetings.
Phipps beats Hunter
In the Third Ward, Rachel Phipps was re-elected over Tony Hunter, with a vote of 853 (57%) to 654.
Hunter stressed the city’s need to stick to providing basic core services, while Phipps believes in finding creative solutions that allow the city to do more.
As an example of those creative ideas, Phipps said she is traveling to Bellefontaine on Wednesday with Mayor Mike Aspacher, city staff and city economic development officials to check out that city’s revitalized downtown.
“So we can pick their brains,” Phipps said.
Phipps is hopeful the city can use some of its COVID relief funding to work on Bowling Green’s downtown, perhaps getting a grant for facade matching. And efforts are underway to make alleys in the downtown usable and attractive, with seating, public art and lighting.
“It’s a great opportunity,” to revitalize the downtown area, she said.
During her first term on council, Phipps has worked on the city’s historic preservation effort, its climate action plan, and programs that helped businesses get through the pandemic.
Phipps has goals – zoning update, sustainability, advocating for a bike-friendly city, revitalizing neighborhoods, making downtown even more of a destination, and responding to the needs of new and existing businesses.
She was the driving force behind the building of the downtown parklets, and the generating of private donations to fund them.
Phipps is in favor of the city updating its economic development plan that was written in the 1990s, and is looking to the city’s zoning update to make land use plans clearer for economic development.
Phipps, who drafted the resolution for the city’s sustainability plan, said “we have so much to be proud of here.”
She recently won support of City Council for the study of a city-operated recycling and food waste compost drop off program in the downtown area. If that works, such a program could be expanded to other businesses and schools, she said.
Rubando beats Hanson
Nick Rubando is ready to hit the ground running after getting 136 votes (64%) to Mark Hanson’s 78 votes.
As of Tuesday evening, he already had a meeting set up with the mayor and other council members.
“I think we’re all really excited about the things we can get going,” Rubando said.
Top priorities for Rubando include sustainability issues and holding landlords accountable for renters’ rights. He also believes in investing in neighborhoods, through projects like sidewalks and street repairs.
“I’m looking forward to advocating for Bowling Green residents,” Rubando said.
Poorly maintained rental properties not only affect the tenants living in them, but also the neighboring property owners, he said.
“If you’re living next to a dilapidated property, it drives your property value down,” he said.
Rubando said sustainability measures are key to attracting new economic development to Bowling Green. Investing in green energy will not drive up energy costs or drive away business, he said.
“There are so many companies who have said they want to go carbon neutral,” he said. “Investment in our sustainability is essential for economic development.”
Rubando said he would look at the sustainability effect of every decision made.
“Our focus on sustainability is what makes Bowling Green great,” he said.
Robinette unopposed
At-large council member Greg Robinette was returned with 2,771 votes. He plans to continue his ongoing efforts to bring economic development to the city.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to shape the future of Bowling Green with the zoning update,” he said.
The new zoning will make the city more inviting to investors. The update is an arduous process, but the results will be worth it, he said.
“I’m less concerned about the time it takes than the outcome,” he said.
Robinette is pleased with the plans to use $3 million in COVID relief funds to repave streets in the city. And he is hopeful that a pathway will be constructed to the community center.
“I really want to see that community center connected to the rest of the city,” he said, calling it a “mistake” for the city to have built the facility on an island far from the city center.
With new council members coming on board, Robinette is hoping to re-emphasize the need to focus on the basics.
“We get paid to work on services for our residents. Let’s focus on Bowling Green,” he said.
Joel O’Dorisio was elected unopposed to the Second Ward seat on City Council. He was not available by phone late Tuesday evening after the election results were final.
