Bowling Green · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bowling Green public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Termination of HR employee Kirsten Homer
The board voted unanimously to fire a three-and-a-half-year HR employee who told them publicly she was never told what she was accused of, never interviewed, and felt pressured to resign — raising questions about transparency in city personnel actions.
Riverfront Park Phase IV funding push
Phase II brings the park's big attractions — a car-themed playground, river spray ground, food truck area, observation mound and performance lawn — starting around September with about 12 months of construction. Phases three (whitewater park) and four (east side) follow.
FY2027 street paving and gas tax fairness
The city plans to spend $2 million repaving roughly 10 miles of streets and $400,000 fixing broken sidewalks, curbs and gutters under its annual Liquid Fuel Tax program. Sidewalk fixes target trip hazards by priority zone, with downtown and the medical center already addressed and the west end now in focus.
Fairview Avenue widening at Kereiakes Park
The city sold right-of-way to the state so KYTC can widen Fairview and add left-turn lanes at the park — a fix for the notorious afternoon congestion, though cemetery crews raised concerns about safely crossing the widened road.
Clean city audit and finance awards
The city's annual financial audit came back with zero findings, and the finance department completed a 'triple crown' of GFOA awards for the 15th straight year — a strong signal the city's books are in order.
Downtown facade and improvement grants
Seven downtown businesses and property owners get matching grants totaling $21,500 for facades, murals, soundproofing and more — the first round of a new FY27 program with $40,000 to give.
Street renaming honoring Betty Natcher
A stretch of Collett Lane will become Ms. Betty Natcher Alley, honoring the widow of Congressman William Natcher who has guarded crossings at T.C. Cherry and Potter Gray Elementary for almost 50 years. Final reading comes later.
TIF district downtown investment
The downtown TIF district generated $3.44 million in 2025, with $2.75 million flowing back to district recipients and the city keeping $688,497. Since 2008 the city has returned $17.4 million of $21.7 million in incremental revenue to downtown.
Crossridge Subdivision speed bumps
Mark Davis returned to ask the city for a solution to chronic speeders on his street — including a stolen car that rammed his neighbor's parked truck — and suggested testing devices like drop-down plates that still let emergency vehicles through.
Stormwater utility rollout
Bowling Green is building a modern stormwater utility because its 80% cave-and-karst drainage system can no longer handle runoff — commissioners referenced the April 2025 floods. The extra $460,000 for GPD Group gets billing integration ready for a January 1 launch.
FLOCK license plate reader policy
A WKU student told commissioners the city's FLOCK/ALPR program tracks residents' movements with unanswered questions about data storage, deletion and federal access — and urged the city to pause expansion while other Kentucky cities have suspended or curtailed theirs.
Hobson Grove pedal park
The city wants an $823,099 state/federal grant to build a kid-sized pedal park at Hobson Grove — a safe place with mini city icons where children can learn to ride bikes.
Expanded bus service on Route 4
The city is adding a Route 4B with a 50% service increase, cutting waits by about 30 minutes and adding 2,063 annual revenue hours for roughly $218,183. Commissioners also discussed the longer-term goal of Sunday service for WKU students and transit shelters at high-traffic stops.
Sinkhole repair costs keep climbing
Eleven active sinkhole projects prompted another $462,550 change order, pushing the Scott & Ritter contract to $1.642 million total. Last year's flooding alone caused over a million dollars of sinkhole damage, and the geologist expects more requests soon.
Transit technology upgrade
GO BG Transit is spending $143,720 on a TransLoc system upgrade for real-time bus tracking, better rider apps, ADA features and fleet reporting — replacing what the new transit manager calls a very antiquated system.
Pedestrian safety restrictions in rights-of-way
The city finalized the closing of an unimproved right-of-way on Scott Lane with a unanimous binding second reading.
Wilkinson Trace and Greenhill Street safety improvements
$108,000 will add a sidewalk block, flashing-beacon crossing and retractable bollards on Wilkinson Trace, and $550,000 more goes toward the Greenhill Street extension — the long-awaited second exit from Whispering Hills that's stalled on property acquisition and FEMA creek-crossing permits.
Missing stop sign and sewage odor complaint near Scholar House
A resident reported a stolen stop sign on Brownslock Road near Scholar House Apartments — where school buses stop and kids cross — and recurring sewage smells at her senior complex. The mayor referred both to Public Works, noting the road may fall under county jurisdiction.
Strategic Neighborhood Grants awarded
Nine neighborhood projects — mailbox replacements, entrance signage, lighting, tree work and community festivals — split $30,565 out of $129,000 requested by 23 applicants.
Property tax rates hold steady
The 2026 property tax rate stays at .203 per $100 for real estate — no increase — with a binding second reading set for September 15. Commissioners specifically refuted a circulating claim of a 20% hike.
Public safety vehicle fleet replacement
Russell Sims Aquatic Center Master Plan
A 25-year vision for the 27-year-old water park: shade cabanas, a lazy river, upgraded restrooms and splash pad, with roughly $7-10 million in first-five-year improvements paid for in phases plus grants and sponsorships.
Veterans housing vouchers
Five new VA Supportive Housing vouchers bring the city's total to 40, pairing Section 8 housing with VA case management for homeless veterans.
First-Responder Mental Health and Wellness Program
A $170,500 renewal with Help the Helpers keeps confidential peer support and counseling running for police, fire, and other city employees — a program credited with improving retention and possibly saving lives.
Data Center Zoning Regulations and Moratorium Debate
The city adopted strict zoning rules for data centers — 1,500-foot setbacks from homes, schools, and hospitals, utility-impact plans, and bonded decommissioning — after 33 residents urged a six-month moratorium instead. A late-filed pause failed 2-3, leaving opponents worried about noise, water, and electric rates.
FEMA Grant for Fire Department Equipment
The city will chase up to $164,760 in federal funds for turnout gear, ballistic helmets, and a foam trailer, covering 90 percent of the cost.
FY 2027 Contract Agency Appropriations
Ten community organizations — including the Drug Task Force, Humane Society, and United Way's 211 service — will share $1,334,010 in city funding next fiscal year.
Housing Authority After-School and Tutoring Funding
The Housing Authority keeps $33,890.73 in PILOT money to fund tutoring for nearly 200 kids — a program officials credited with cutting dropout rates.
Fiscal Year 2027 city budget
The first reading of the FY 2027 budget shows $110.2 million in the General Fund (down $6.7 million) and $189.3 million in All Funds, reflecting a nearly $6.8 million revenue shortfall mainly from occupational fees. No programs or services are cut, employees get a 2.7% COLA, and a $25.9 million capital plan funds riverfront development, storm shelters, and roads.
Pedigo Park sepak takraw court
The city awarded a $97,532 contract to Baker Contracting for the concrete pad and sidewalk needed to complete the new sepak takraw (kick volleyball) court at Pedigo Park, part of a broader redesign of the park for the surrounding community.
Storm shelters and FEMA funding
Commissioners asked about the first five storm shelter locations funded in the budget: two each at Lovers Lane Soccer Complex and Preston Miller Park, one at Pedigo Park. Approval is still pending with FEMA, with a one-year extension of the funding period secured.
Employee health insurance stop-loss and TPA renewal
The city re-upped its self-funded health plan's stop-loss coverage and claims administrator. Taking on slightly more deductible risk saved about $150,000 on a premium that had been quoted near $905,000.
HIDTA drug task force grant
A recurring $57,000 federal grant with no local match pays overtime for three city officers on the Warren County Drug Task Force, targeting meth trafficking and manufacturing.
Loan for police property purchase
The city will borrow via a 10-year note to pay for the 940 Bryant White property bought for the police department — its first real-estate borrowing in decades, paid from the fire improvement fund.
Downtown free parking loss
A downtown business owner warned commissioners that removing the free State Street lot behind downtown shops could drive customers and employees away and threaten long-standing businesses.
Kaz Abe maintenance shop upgrade
The Parks landscape division's 30-year-old Brookwood Drive shop is getting its first major remodel — restrooms, paint, garage doors, electrical and concrete work — for up to $106,350.