By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Even a mayor needs a little help from his mom sometimes.
As Bowling Green Mayor Mike Aspacher met with constituents over cups of coffee Friday morning, his dad Tony gave him a pat on the back, and his mom Sandra stopped to straighten his collar.
“Thanks, Mom,” the mayor said.
And then it was back to business, listening to citizens who pulled up a chair at Aspacher’s table at Biggby Coffee.
In all, 11 residents and two City Council members asked questions and joined in conversations about housing, trash in yards, downtown parking, zoning and other issues troubling local residents.
“It was a good turnout,” Aspacher said. “These are all important things.”
Friday was the first of planned quarterly “Meet the Mayor” sessions over coffee. Aspacher shared his vision for the community – growing it in a healthy manner – “While still remembering who we are. I want BG to be BG.”
But mainly, the mayor listened.
Misty June, who has a downtown business, talked about her parking concerns. One of Aspacher’s first official actions as mayor – getting rid of all meter or kiosk parking downtown – has been great. But her business relies on nearby parking – which is often taken up by downtown residents who don’t follow the city’s parking rules.
Julie Broadwell talked about the frequent trash in yards she encounters during her daily walks with her dog in the Enterprise Street area.
“I walk every day – and I’m picking up trash every day,” she said.
Broadwell said she felt the mayor was listening. “He’s going to follow up,” she said.
Winnie Rex and Anesa Miller posed tough questions about the city’s zoning code update and need for rental housing inspections.
Barbara and William Henning came with a list of issues to share with Aspacher. The couple lives on South Summit Street, and frequently see trash in yards and the street, and cars parked on lawns.
“We’re not complaining because they’re rentals. We’re complaining because they take advantage of us,” Barbara Henning said.
She handed the mayor a list of sidewalks in her neighborhood that need fixed, with specific addresses along Enterprise Street and Lehman Avenue.
“The sidewalk is completely gone. It’s dirt,” she said of one location.
Barbara Henning, who keeps notes on such things, told of a deceased possum not picked up by city workers.
“Day after day, the dead possum is still laying there,” she said. “That looks bad for the community.”
Realtor Tim Westhoven talked with Aspacher about the lack of housing options in Bowling Green.
The low number of houses in the $200,000 to $300,000 range is making it difficult for young families to become homeowners and for older couples who want to move out of their two-story homes into single-story homes in walkable neighborhoods, he said.
“We need the housing really bad,” Westhoven said.
New homes are needed to attract more business and more residents – so the school district can pass levies for new buildings, he said.
“We’re kind of stagnant,” Westhoven said.
