[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6463978,"mediaKeyId","5784699-b5051253c7f02964e469d6063c2a29dc","parentId",5784699,"title","Neighbors urge Menards to finish fence after store leaves gap; city says rezoning limits what it can require","audioSeconds",224,"startMs",2714000,"endMs",2938000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784699-b5051253c7f02964e469d6063c2a29dc&start=2714&end=2938","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784699-b5051253c7f02964e469d6063c2a29dc/thumbnail_2714000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6463978/Bowling-Green/Warren-County/Kentucky/Neighbors-urge-Menards-to-finish-fence-after-store-leaves-gap-city-says-rezoning-limits-what-it-can-require","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463978-d4cb17dd1ac842537287c67105a6f08c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776022527&Signature=TQeO-qUx6s~h5K5lISm5k80fHmBb3E5rUBZSaUAX6t8rLhEUKjbci1kwYJwYE8MLQSbQh4pKZU1qw5Btaa0x4amdvhrkcLojurKaIRfKwbZbhpW95k9Y8ccgK~eRDHwfQqo4p00ZOfGyLBQL17tDCamEeDIo88ugCXeufyg7UfiYSqnX2~7FlzpH0mNFFcFCYivFySltMoyI3gw5T6L4GnBDhUHLvXm-1sqB2UT6S3glvuyFmZaYaZiXbAXhrgq~tGPxRJYHp1cQ2qZAx~sYoOV4xoR0p0TJTt01~LHW~HrRqTg8MlZIXUJa7B9mngKu~dBwyHdM9yg0tdPjc2N0Nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bowling Green, KY","date","2025-09-18T04:33:23.447Z","article","Bowling Green — Neighbors who live behind the Menards site told the Board of Commission on Sept. 16 that a stop in fencing at the rear of the store has created a “gateway” that funnels people through yards and has led to trespassing, theft and safety concerns.

Leanne Kerr, who identified herself as a Price Avenue resident, said the absence of a continuous fence behind Menards has changed daily life for several neighbors. “The lack of fencing where they stop the fence has created basically a gateway, for our neighborhood,” Kerr said. “It’s funneling people through on a consistent basis all times of the day and night.”

Hannah Tibbs, whose home sits adjacent to the open section, described multiple incidents and provided staff with photos and a police call record. “I came out to get in my car one day and a man in a black mask and a black hood came up and ran at me,” Tibbs said. “He stood outside laughing. I called the police. They rode off and the police never found him.”

Residents asked the commission to require Menards to extend the fence to the end of the private parcel that backs the neighborhood. City staff and the city attorney said they have pursued the issue with Menards management but that the rezoning and development approvals applied to the store’s parcel only and did not require extension of the fence along the neighboring parcel that remains single‑family zoned.

City Attorney Hillary summarized the legal constraint: staff found that the rezoning request covered the Menards parcel and not the adjacent single‑family parcel that creates the remaining open boundary, so Menards is not legally obligated to extend the fence where the city lacks zoning authority over that adjacent parcel. Hillary told the commission she had researched development conditions and said licensed store management indicated they lack the corporate authority at the store level to make the requested change.

Jeff Meisel, the city manager, and other commissioners said they have contacted Menards management and asked for further cooperation. Commissioner comments reflected sympathy for residents and a desire to push Menards to help. Meisel said staff has asked Menards if it would donate materials so a resident’s contractor could build a fence; Menards’ local manager has been “very nice” but higher‑level approval has not been granted, Meisel said.

Menards and next steps
Mr. Williams, who spoke for neighborhood concerns and who said he had worked with city staff, noted repeated incidents and urged the company to complete the barrier. City staff said they would continue to press the company and review the record of the rezoning hearing and development conditions to confirm whether the commission’s earlier intent matched the current development plan. Staff also said they would seek escalation to corporate contacts and requested that residents continue to share photographic evidence and police reports.

Why it matters
Residents said the gap has created daily safety concerns — people in yards, break‑ins of outbuildings, drug paraphernalia and visits by strangers — and that the discontinuous fence has shifted the neighborhood’s sense of safety. City staff said they are constrained by what the development approvals required and by property‑line limits but committed to continued outreach and review of the development record.

Ending
The commission heard the public comments during the meeting’s public‑comment period and did not take immediate binding action to compel Menards to extend fencing; staff said it will pursue follow up with Menards’ corporate contacts and revisit the development record. Residents asked for further city assistance and documentation of discussion in the commission record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","09/16/2025 Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Neighbors told the Bowling Green Board of Commission on Sept. 16 that a gap in fencing behind Menards funnels people through private yards and has led to trespassing and safety concerns.","taxTitle","Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky","taxId",4042,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6463983,"Bowling Green commission approves option to buy downtown property, radio fiber, playground and several personnel actions",3492,517000,4009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784699-b5051253c7f02964e469d6063c2a29dc&start=517&end=4009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784699-b5051253c7f02964e469d6063c2a29dc/thumbnail_517000.jpg","/articles/6463983/Bowling-Green/Warren-County/Kentucky/Bowling-Green-commission-approves-option-to-buy-downtown-property-radio-fiber-playground-and-several-personnel-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463983-afc2289dae33e63bf89cc03a77956acf/orig.mp4?Expires=1776022527&Signature=A3TQMzhFLy4-eqD1JrVL31uxdg87B~yjNfcaUjZ9gntcLzz0PCJ0PibhkwWFNw9pBKs~kTmZ2kkOxx5wgXJE1aX5B~VTmlLe8snM334ylX6oB3LbjJkrwsG1qWC99VdROfSLzunNlj4JJdUDgYiq5khFmk1vTya9ox6aaxVpwBiIU~3gIp7DytZZwQt~XMXzFmNBd7OxDQEzJV5T1RpNcxFsOsnjKZPGq68bhzq4YLjDS09YeFAoZUWCO-EdXBGR9xA282-BnoXXHTcsUs6pTYcTMESkSosX46n0jYUN3JAZghDbdDQUqp-90DHqFRjfb5~Kt5q3vHIaFHxzBE37gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bowling Green — The Bowling Green Board of Commission on Sept. 16 approved an option to purchase 500 East Main and voted on a package of operational items including a fiber installation for public-safety radio sites, an application for a state transportation grant, playground replacement work, personnel appointments and a change order for asphalt work.

The actions, taken at City Hall during the regularly scheduled evening meeting, were advanced by unanimous votes unless noted. City officials said the property option will provide interim office space as the city plans long-term development of its City Hall campus. Officials described the fiber work as a cost-saving measure to improve redundancy for the public-safety radio system.

City manager remarks and staff presentations
City Manager Jeff Meisel presented the purchase option for 500 East Main, which staff said would offer space for “four or five departments” during a multi-year campus planning process. “This will be an opportunity to plug and play,” Meisel said during discussion of the acquisition. The commission voted unanimously to approve the municipal order authorizing an option to purchase the property (municipal order number 2025-231).

Steven Eppley, an IT manager, described the radio-fiber project as an effort to “upgrade and replace some outdated equipment or radio towers that are used for our public safety radio system.” Eppley told commissioners that partnering with local utilities to provide fiber to tower sites will create dual communication paths where only one exists today and will allow the city to defer expensive aerial equipment replacement. The commission approved a sole-source purchase of fiber and service aggregation routers from Bowling Green Municipal Utilities and Motorola Solutions Inc., for $279,386.25.

Roads, grant application and resurfacing scope
Staff asked the commission to authorize submission of a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet county priority projects program application for $669,586.14 to resurface approximately 1.1 miles of roadway, including Riverview Drive and Plum Springs Loop. City staff said the project would require a 20% local match (about $167,000) for a total project forecast near $837,000. Commissioners voted to authorize the grant application.

Parks, playground and capital projects
The commission approved a GameTime contract using the Omnia Partners cooperative to replace the Lovers Lane playground, with a total project cost of $549,378.49. Parks staff said the project will remove the existing 25‑year‑old equipment, regrade the site, install a concrete apron and pour‑in‑place rubber surfacing to improve accessibility.

A municipal change order with Scotty's Contracting Stone LLC was approved to provide asphalt through a sole source, adding $196,000 for a total project cost of $237,500. Staff said the work will let public-works crews complete in-house paving at Hobson Grove, Pedigo Park, Lampkin Park walking trails and resurface the landscaping division storage area.

Personnel and human-resources items
The commission approved multiple personnel actions: the promotion of Benjamin Craig to police sergeant (municipal order number 2025-222); probationary appointments for three office-associate positions in human resources and parks and recreation (2025-223); a probationary appointment in information technology for Jordan Miller (2025-224); and the probationary appointment of Aaron Bridal to landscape gardener (2025-225). HR manager Tiara Bridal described the recruitment pools for the office-associate posts (277 applicants, 12 interviewed for the position she summarized).

Financial policy, signatures and purchasing manual updates
City staff presented amendments to the city’s financial policies and purchasing manual to reflect the recent separation of the assistant city manager and CFO positions and to add timelines and clarifications for vendor appeals. Katie Schaller Ward, assistant city manager, said the updates included “some specific time periods for us to respond to an appeal” and matching language for revenue collection. The commission approved the policy amendments.

Ordinances and interlocal agreements
The commission advanced several ordinances and interlocal items: a first reading (nonbinding) of a new cable-franchise ordinance that updates the city’s franchise requirements; final approval of an interlocal agreement with Warren County and the Barren River Area Development District to manage opioid-settlement funds; and final approval of a new massage-facility regulation amending chapters 15 and 24 of the city code. City Attorney Hillary (last name on file) said licensed massage therapists vetted clarifications and that licensed therapists who furnish documentation to city licensing will be exempt from some local requirements while subject to posting and affidavit conditions.

Process, budget and next steps
Staff noted the radio-fiber project was originally budgeted at about $1 million and that the current approach saves money while maintaining backup communications paths. The county and city will split some radio project costs 50/50, officials said. The commission also approved several routine municipal orders for signatures on accounts, amendments to code, and closure of a public right-of-way (between 1418 and 1422 Mount Air Circle), all by unanimous vote.

Votes at a glance (items approved unless otherwise noted)
- Municipal order 2025-231 — Option to purchase 500 East Main; motion moved by Commissioner Perrigan, seconded by Commissioner Beasley Brown; vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Municipal order 2025-222 — Promotion of Benjamin Craig to police sergeant; move: Commissioner Beasley Brown; second: Commissioner Bailey; vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Municipal order 2025-223 — Probationary appointments (HR and Parks & Rec office associates); vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Municipal order 2025-224 — Probationary appointment (Information Technology, Jordan Miller); vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Municipal order 2025-225 — Probationary appointment (landscape gardener, Aaron Bridal); vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Municipal order — Purchase of fiber and aggregation routers (Bowling Green Municipal Utilities & Motorola Solutions Inc.), $279,386.25; vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Municipal order (KYTC grant application) — Authorize application for $669,586.14 with 20% local match; vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Municipal order 2025-229 — Lovers Lane playground replacement (GameTime via Omnia), $549,378.49; vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Municipal order 2025-230 — Change order with Scotty's Contracting Stone LLC for asphalt, $196,000 (total project $237,500); vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Municipal order 2025-? — Designation of officials to execute checks and open investment accounts (signature-card changes after separation of assistant city manager/CFO); vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Ordinance (first reading, nonbinding) — Cable-franchise ordinance (updates to franchise terms; first reading held).
- Ordinance (second reading, binding) — Interlocal agreement re: opioid settlement funds with Warren County and Barren River Area Development District; vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Ordinance (second reading, binding) — Regulation of massage facilities (amendments to chapters 15 and 24); vote: 5–0 (approved).
- Ordinance/municipal order — Right-of-way closing between 1418 and 1422 Mount Air Circle; vote: 5–0 (approved).

Why it matters
The purchase option for 500 East Main provides near-term space to consolidate city operations while the city plans longer-term campus improvements. The fiber and radio work is designed to increase redundancy for 911 and public-safety communications at substantially lower cost than full equipment replacement. The road grant application targets high-traffic corridors (Riverview Drive, Plum Springs Loop) and, if funded, will require a local match. The Lovers Lane playground project updates a heavily used park to inclusive surfacing. Personnel actions fill positions included in the FY 2026 budget.

What’s next
City staff said they will pursue the KYTC grant, coordinate the fiber installation with utilities, begin contracting for the playground and pursue required inspections and closeout steps for the downtown property acquisition. The commission rescheduled the Oct. 7 meeting to Oct. 21.

Ending
Most measures passed by unanimous roll call; the commission convened a closed session on real‑estate deliberations under KRS 61.810(1)(b) and returned to approve the option to purchase 500 East Main. The board adjourned after the final roll call.","At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Bowling Green Board of Commission approved an option to purchase 500 East Main, authorized fiber and radio upgrades for public-safety sites, accepted several personnel appointments and approved funding and contract items including a playground replacement and asphalt change order.","actionData","errors"]

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Neighbors urge Menards to finish fence after store leaves gap; city says rezoning limits what it can require

Bowling Green commission approves option to buy downtown property, radio fiber, playground and several personnel actions