Thanks to all who supported Hop into Easter in the Green this past weekend. It also brought in many visitors from out of town who bought gas, ate lunch, and shopped in our stores. Tourist dollars are vital to rural America. It is a revenue source beyond a community’s tax dollars.
The Comprehensive City Planning Committee had their first meeting last week. The members of this committee are Larry Gamm, Adam Mitalovich, Robbie Scott, Sherry Comer, McCoy Thompson, Olivia Gregory, Lilly Dameron, Dawn Bell, and me. We will be handing out surveys to all that live, do business, visit and participate in our city activities, parks and/or lakes. Please fill out a survey packet and turn it in to either of these committee members or City Hall. Thank you!
Saturday, April 19 at 10:00 is the annual Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Board’s Easter egg hunt! It’s always a fun time watching children of all ages seek and find plastic eggs filled with candy and other surprises. Thanks to the Parks Board for filling all the eggs and then hiding them throughout the lower park area. Thanks also to those that have donated candy-past and present.
As our Federal Government is attempting to level the trades playing field across the world and waiting to see if tariffs are going to work, the same can be said about a town’s projections, needs and requirements. It’s been one of my great pleasures to converse with several Bowling Green High School graduates who have gone off to college or trade school and who are now interested in coming home to their roots and either taking over retiring “Mom and Pop” businesses or investing in revitalizing their hometown. However, some of the very first questions from them are: 1. What is there to do socially? For entertainment? 2. Are the buildings around the Square in good shape or are they money-pits? 3. Are there building codes being enforced to ensure insurability, heating/cooling affordability, structurally sound, and reasonably priced? 4. Is the city planning for the future? 5. Why are there no sidewalks in Bowling Green especially for school children and the handicapped or elderly to get around the city? 6. Is housing affordable and in decent shape? Administrative fees from a city for particular services, (water, sewer, trash pick-up), dog and side by side licenses, building licenses are other revenue sources but cannot pay for theaters, bowling alleys, YMCAs, and Senior/Youth centers. Grants have almost dried up or have become even more competitive so that leaves individuals or co-ops to invest in city growth and development. Opportunities that meet the needs of our youth, our senior adults, programs for young families, or social activities for the 21-40 ‘s social interactions.
Lover Thy Neighbor is scheduled for June and if you own your home but are not able physically or financially keep up with repairs or replacements, this program can possibly help you with this challenge. Applications are available online, at Second Baptist Church, and local banks.
Written by Mayor Jim Arico