By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The city’s newly completed Good Neighbor Guide offers citizens tips on how to be good neighbors – and what they can do if their neighbors are not so good.
“The Good Neighbor Guide is intended to help support a high quality of life for all of those that call Bowling Green home,” the guide states.
The guide tells citizens who to call when cars are parked in yards, parties are too loud or a couch is left sitting on the curb.
But it also stresses that while some issues involve city enforcement, other issues can been resolved by good neighborly behavior.
“A good neighbor is considerate, friendly and participates in actions that support community. While the guide can be utilized as a reference for common scenarios related to neighborhood issues, we recommend reviewing the following tips and resources that are critical to creating and maintaining good neighbor relationships,” the guide states.
The following tips for success are recommended:
- Make meaningful contact. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. A simple hello goes a long way to building relationships.
- Know neighbors on a personal level. Ask questions about their interests, professions, backgrounds and their family.
- Be considerate. Please think about your neighbors’ schedules, which may be different from yours, and be considerate.
- Making too much noise, particularly late at night, is a nuisance and against the law. Large parties can also cause friction with your neighbors and violate city ordinances.
- Be respectful. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming, inclusive community. Posting signs or banners that members of the community could find offensive runs counter to the values of Bowling Green. It could also be a violation of your lease and city ordinances.
- Know your lease. Understand what your landlord is responsible for and what your obligations are for things like trash disposal, lawn care and snow removal.
- Know your city and neighborhood. Familiarize yourself with regulations on things like noise and litter ordinances, parking and snow removal. Much of this information can be found on the city of Bowling Green’s website.
For those problems that cannot be smoothed over among neighbors, the guide suggests what governmental office should be contacted. There are phone numbers listed, along with estimated response times.
Some issues covered are not related to neighbors, but are items the city is responsible for that make for good neighborhoods, such as street lights being out or street signs missing.
The issues covered in the guide include:
- Neighbors are having a loud party during nighttime or early morning hours
- Neighbor’s dog barks excessively
- Private trash trucks are excessively loud during nighttime or early morning hours, or any noise complaint
- Small trash (papers, cans, bottles, etc.) is being left on neighbor’s property
- Large trash (couch, chairs, table, etc.) on my property or neighbor’s property
- Large trash (couch, chairs, table, etc.) is being left on public property including the sidewalk or median
- Neighbors have tall brush, grass, or noxious weeds (over 8 inches)
- Public property, including parkways or medians have tall brush, grass or noxious weeds (over 8 inches)
- Neighbor’s building(s) appear to be unsafe due to damage or deterioration
- Neighbor’s building appears to have more residents than allowed occupancy for apartments
- Neighbor’s building appears to have more residents than allowed occupancy (for single-family dwelling)
- Vehicles are being parked on public property including parkways, median, or left on the street for an extended period of time
- Vehicles are being parked on neighbor’s front yards, or anywhere on the grass on the private property
- There are inoperable vehicles parked on my street
- There are inoperable vehicles on my neighbor’s property
- An illegal sign has been posted on my street
- My street has broken or disconnected sidewalks
- Open burn on private or public property
- Door to door solicitation
- Feral or wild animals
- Animal feces on public property
- Snow removal on private property (including sidewalks)
- Pods/RVs, boats, or trailers on private property
- Missing street signs
- A street light is out
- Water is backing up in the street
