By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Council was scolded Monday for ignoring businesses’ input on the plastic bag ban.
Last week, City Council voted 4 to 3 to not put the proposed single-use plastic bag ban on the ballot this fall. Instead, council members opted to decide the matter themselves when the ordinance is ready.
But this week, three representatives of businesses said citizens deserve the right to vote on the bag ban.
During the public comment portion of Monday’s City Council meeting, Chamber of Commerce Director Mary Hinkelman, Downtown BG Director Tony Vetter and chamber member Nathan Eberly told council that businesses feel ignored.
Hinkelman pointed to the survey conducted of chamber members about the proposed bag ban. The results showed 74 of 94 businesses being opposed to such an ordinance.
“I regret that the voice of our businesses didn’t impact your decision,” she said to council.
Vetter said putting the plastic bag ban on the ballot in November would have allowed more public input.
“So there is an equal voice for all,” he said. “So the community as a whole has the right to vote.”
Eberly said that while citizens should be examining how to reduce their consumption of single-use items, he feared the bag ban would result in increased prices for consumers and businesses.
“I find it very disturbing that we’re going down the road of prohibition,” he said.
Eberly also referred to the survey conducted for chamber of commerce members.
“The chamber of commerce is a major stakeholder in our community,” he said. And more than 70 percent were in favor of putting the bag ban up for a community-wide vote.
“The survey responses were dismissed,” Eberly said.
But City Council member Bill Herald – who voted to put the bag ban on the ballot – assured the business representatives that their input wasn’t ignored.
“I’m confident that council did take into account the survey,” he said.
And City Council member Sandy Rowland mentioned last week that the survey was taken prior to her proposal that small downtown retailers be exempt.
“Some of them are barely hanging on by threads,” she said.
Four council members – President Mike Aspacher, Mark Hollenbaugh, Rowland and John Zanfardino – believe it’s council’s responsibility to decide matters like this.
“They feel it’s their job to make these decisions,” Herald said. And normally he would agree, he added. But in this instance, Herald, Bruce Jeffers and Greg Robinette voted to let voters decide.
“In this case, I feel it’s council’s role to come up with the best possible legislation,” then educate voters and let them decide at the polls, Herald said.
City Council’s Committee of the Whole plans to meet June 24, at 6 p.m., in council chambers, to further discuss part of the plastic bag ban legislation – specifically the formation of a sustainability board.
In light of the comments at Monday’s meeting, Herald asked Aspacher if City Council could revisit the issue of putting the bag ban on the ballot.
Aspacher said if council members wish to discuss the matter, they may. But he added, “As far as I’m concerned, a decision has been made.”
The plastic bag ban will be set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, with enforcement to be assigned to the police division’s civil code enforcement staff. Legislation is expected to be presented soon.
The lone vote last week against the plastic bag ban came from Robinette, who said that 100 percent of the people who spoke with him privately are opposed to the ban.
Aspacher said he heard mixed opinions from citizens.
“But at the end of the day, all of us have a responsibility,” Aspacher said. “There’s no reason change can’t begin in Bowling Green.”
