By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green is ready to offer money to citizen-led projects to help neighborhoods.
Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter announced last week to City Council that the city is launching a micro-grant program. This will be the first priority put in place from the city’s newly adopted Community Action Plan.
The micro-grant program will allocate $500 to $5,000 annually to proposals that meet the goals of the CAP by improving neighborhoods.
Applications for the first round of funding will be due June 15. A total of $5,000 will be available.
Tretter said money was already set aside for the CAP this year – so this would be a good use of that funding.
“I think we’re all interested in seeing something move forward,” she said to City Council.
The money can be used for a variety of projects, such as the Connect Court Street event that was held last year, the Firefly Nights that just started downtown, or projects such as neighborhood tool sharing or home improvements, said Assistant Municipal Administrator Joe Fawcett.
“There are probably things we haven’t even thought of yet” that would qualify, Tretter said.
The plan will be to offer the micro-grants twice a year, with the deadlines for applications being Jan. 15 and June 15 each year. These grants are not intended to compete with the Community Foundation grants, which serve different purposes, Tretter said.
Those receiving the micro-grants will be accountable for the funding, and will be asked to come before City Council to explain the impact of the grants, she added.
Other items on the list to be worked on soon for the Community Action Plan include:
- Work on the city zoning code and land use issues. This might include such efforts as more training for the zoning board of appeals, and forming a committee to review city parking regulations.
- Work on bicycling grants and infrastructure improvements.
- Study of potential improvements to Carter Park.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Police Chief Tony Hetrick explained changes in the city’s emergency dispatching system. The work began three years ago to blend the fire and police dispatching into one center.
The change allows police to access county-wide and regional records systems. It gets rid of the duplication of services, and allows the fire department to use all its staff for emergency responses rather than assigning one person to dispatching.
And most recently, it allowed for an expansion to more 911 dispatching consoles.
Hetrick thanked the city’s public works and public utilities departments for doing nearly all the work in-house. The project cost $60,000, but probably would have been double that otherwise, he said.
Jennifer Karches is named BG ‘Spokesperson’ of the Year.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the city named Jennifer Karches as its “Spokesperson of the Year.” Chairman of the Bowling Green Bicycle Safety Commission, Dr. Steve Langendorfer said Karches “pedals what she preaches.” She rides to work almost every day, and follows the rules promoted in the Yay Bikes training that she took with the city.
“Bowling Green is a really great place to bike in,” Karches said.
In other business, Mary Hinkelman, managing director for Downtown Bowling Green, talked about the new enthusiasm being seen in the downtown with events like the “Chocolate Crawl,” the annual art walk, and most recently, Firefly Nights.
The farmers market, which opened last week, saw the biggest opening day ever, Hinkelman said. More than 300 people attended, and 25 vendors set up sales. The farmers market will be held every Wednesday in the parking lot at the corner of South Main and Clough streets.
Though Hinkelman said she hasn’t agreed on the proposal to allow food trucks, she appreciates the city’s help with special downtown efforts.
“I know you’re working for us,” she said.
Also at the meeting, City Arborist Grant Jones talked about pruning work and removal of high-risk trees with the city’s public works department, and working on line clearance for trees with the public utilities department.
Grant reported that 82 trees are being planted in the city by North Branch Nursery, that three tree care seminars will be offered this year, and that a tree photo contest is open to any city residents.
In other business, council gave a second reading to a resolution to participate in the ODOT project converting the Interstate 75 intersections on East Wooster Street to roundabouts.
Also at the meeting:
- Mayor Dick Edwards reminded council that the dedication of the gazebo in Wooster Green will be held June 1, at 4 p.m.
- Tretter said the Columbia Gas project to replace gas lines in the downtown area will start in June and continue through the summer. Then the city will start work on water and sewer lines in that same area, she said.
- Council President Mike Aspacher set a Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss the city charter updates for June 18, prior to the City Council meeting. The time has not yet been scheduled.
- Planning Director Heather Sayler reported that she will be attending the annual Town-Gown organization meeting.
- Sayler asked that citizens report long grass and noxious weeds to the city planning office. Grass and weeds longer than 8 inches are in violation of city regulations.
- Parks and Recreation Director Kristin Otley reported the city pool will be open on May 26, Lunch in the Park events start on June 1 and continue every Friday in June and July, and Concerts in the Park start on June 10.
- Public Works Director Brian Craft said brush collection had been requested at 310 locations in the city.
