Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Flood Mitigation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bowling Green approves purchase of low‑lying Cave Mill Road property for flood mitigation
Summary
Commissioners approved acquiring a low‑lying parcel on Cave Mill Road intended to add floodwater storage and accommodate a future road redesign; the parcel contains a cave and several acres, city staff said.
The Board of Commissioners approved a municipal order June 3, 2025 authorizing purchase of property at 1050 Cave Mill Road to increase floodwater storage capacity and support future road expansion on Cave Mill.
City Manager Meisel told commissioners the property is one of the lowest‑lying parcels on Cave Mill Road and that acquiring it would allow the city to build additional capacity to help mitigate future flooding along the corridor. Public works staff described the parcel as "several acres" with an existing cave feature that city staff plan to inspect.
Andy/Annie Souza of Public Works (as identified in the meeting) and Matt Powell were present to answer questions. Souza told the board the parcels selected for acquisition were chosen because they have historically flooded and because removing structures and creating storage on those sites would provide flood mitigation benefits for a wider area. Souza also said the property would support redesign elements for the Cave Mill expansion corridor and allow the city to channel water to other places.
Mayor Alcott and other commissioners emphasized the public‑purpose rationale for the purchase: preventing repeated flooding of residential properties and enabling future road widening and drainage improvements. Commissioners asked for a brief public explanation of how the acquisition serves the public interest; city staff explained the twofold purpose of storage capacity and corridor planning.
The purchase price cited in the meeting transcript was not clearly stated on the record (the numeric figure in the transcript was unclear) and is therefore not specified here; staff present told commissioners they had negotiated fair market value and that city legal and staff would sign the sale and purchase agreement and deed as required.
Roll call approved the municipal order. City staff said the parcel will be inspected (including the cave feature) and integrated into the city’s flood mitigation and roadway planning work.
