Bowling Green commission backs local control, approves contracts and grant applications

The Bowling Green Board of Commissioners on Feb. 4 voted unanimously on a slate of routine and substantive measures, including a resolution opposing proposed state legislation to centralize collection of local occupational taxes, approval of contracts for an employee-assistance program and architectural design for tornado-safe rooms and a community center, and submission of a $2.2 million federal BUILD grant application for traffic and pedestrian improvements.

The commission’s meeting opened with a guest presentation on the long-running leaf-composting partnership between the city and Western Kentucky University, but commissioners quickly moved to formal business. The meeting featured multiple staff presentations and a string of roll-call votes that passed by 5-0.

Why it matters: The resolution opposing state centralization of occupational-tax collections frames a key line-of-service funding issue for the city; commissioners described the local occupational tax as the largest single revenue source for the general fund and said removing local control could hamper the city’s ability to respond quickly to emergencies and infrastructure needs.

Mr. Meisel, a city staff member who presented the resolution, said the change would be “devastating” if enacted and noted the city relies on local occupational-tax revenue for core services. Commissioners spoke in support of keeping “local dollars local,” citing responses to recent tornadoes and sinkhole repairs as examples where local control allowed fast action.

On commercial and operational matters, the commission:

- Approved a three-year, noncompetitive professional-services contract with Magellan Healthcare Inc. to administer the city’s employee assistance program (EAP). The contract totals $64,630.44 for the three-year term; Magellan’s proposed price was $2.49 per employee per month for an employee count listed at 721, and the company will provide up to eight counseling sessions per person per year, digital supports and additional work-life services. Kirsten Homer, the city’s benefits coordinator, presented the contract and said Magellan was chosen after demonstrations and vendor interviews coordinated by the city’s benefits consultant, Assured Partners.

- Authorized a proposal award to Sewell and Sewell Architects PLLC for design services related to tornado safe rooms and a community center at Lampkin Park/Hobson Grove, not to exceed $207,500. City staff described the design work as part of a grant-funded shelter project and said the community-center design is intended to expand usable amenities tied to the safe-room construction.

- Approved resubmission for a U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grant, seeking up to $2.2 million for design work and roadway improvements on University Boulevard, Russellville Road and Morgantown Road, including additional roundabouts and bicycle/pedestrian facilities.

- Accepted a $12,556 donation from the Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green (channeled through Better BGKY Inc.) to support Parks and Recreation adaptive-recreation initiatives.

- Approved an amendment to the city’s capital-improvement program to reflect recent and emergent projects and purchases, including a City Hall boiler replacement and stormwater rehabilitation work.

- Adopted Resolution 2025-1 formally opposing any bill in the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly that would centralize collection of local occupational fees or taxes. The resolution will be sent to the Kentucky League of Cities and the city’s state legislators.

- Passed Ordinance BG 2025-1 on second reading to add a new subchapter (15-9) governing medicinal cannabis businesses in the city code (the ordinance passed by roll call vote).

- Authorized acceptance of Highway Contingency Fund grant funds from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYT C) in the amount of $100,000 to help close-out sinkhole and emergency road repairs on Singletree Way. Public works staff explained the recent sinkhole work required excavation and backfill across both sides of the roadway to create a single, quarried-stone repair and said the KYTC source was pursued for emergency repair funding.

Other actions: The commission approved the probationary appointment of Devon Souza to communications dispatcher I in the police department and authorized mayoral travel to the Kentucky League of Cities City Officials Academy. Staff also presented a status update on ongoing sinkhole remediation; public-works staff said they excavated and backfilled a broad area to avoid leaving a thin wedge of unstable material beneath the road surface.

Quotes from the meeting: Dr. Luther Hughes, a retired Western Kentucky University faculty member who spoke about the university–city leaf-composting project, summarized the program’s history: “It’s all of these millions of pounds of leaves that we now load into trucks, mini trucks, and take to the landfill in Butler County,” and said the composting program has kept about half a billion pounds of material out of landfills over 37 years.

What’s next: The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2025. Staff will proceed with the BUILD grant submittal and will provide updates to commissioners on the design contract for Lampkin Park and on the sinkhole-repair close-out.