Bowling Green council adopts suite of budget, personnel and grant measures; CDBG application authorized

Bowling Green City Council unanimously adopted a package of ordinances and resolutions Wednesday night, advancing city budget measures for 2025 and 2026, approving an amended employment policy, and authorizing the mayor to apply for Community Development Block Grant funding.

The mayor opened the meeting’s second part and later reflected on the year’s work: “I think that reflecting on 2025 by any objective measure, we could conclude the 2025 was a successful year in the city of Bowling Green,” the mayor said, thanking council members for their contributions. The council then moved through a slate of legislative items, most carried by motion and roll call votes.

Why it matters: the ordinances set near-term spending authority for the city, alter the municipal employee handbook (Chapter 33), and enable grant-seeking that could support housing and community development projects. Taken together, the measures finalize budget authority for the current fiscal year, establish spending for 2026, and preserve options to pursue federal CDBG funds.

The meeting record shows these formal outcomes:

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 9334 (supplemental/amending appropriations for the fiscal year beginning 01/01/2025 and ending 12/31/2025): rules were suspended for second and third readings and the ordinance was adopted. Motion to adopt was moved by Councilmember Robinette and seconded; the council approved the ordinance.

- Ordinance 9328 (appropriations for the fiscal year beginning 01/01/2026 and ending 12/31/2026): rules were suspended; a motion to adopt passed. Council thanked administration for the preparation of budget materials prior to the vote.

- Ordinance 9330 (amending/adopting Chapter 33 of the Codified Ordinances regarding employment policies): council received a redline substitution, voted to amend by substitution, suspended the rules and adopted the ordinance as amended by substitution.

- Resolution 3896 (renewal of agreement with the Wood County Public Defender): adopted.

- Resolution 3897 (establishing new funds): adopted.

- Resolution 3898 (authorizing the mayor to file a Community Development Block Grant entitlement application under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended): adopted.

- Ordinance 9326 (contract authorization with the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce; emergency clause adopted): emergency clause and ordinance adopted.

- Ordinance 9327 (authorization to trade in, sell, or otherwise dispose of equipment no longer needed): adopted.

Several other items were read for second reading (including ordinances authorizing the utilities director to contract with Novotix, accepting deed transfers from Bowling Green Economic Development, and dedicating a perpetual easement for highway purposes) and will return for further consideration.

Municipal Administrator Miss Tredder reminded residents that year-end changes to city services and building hours are posted on the city website and the city’s social media channels: “We do encourage residents to check on those,” she said, and thanked public safety and utility staff who remain on call over the holidays.

What’s next: most of the adopted ordinances take effect according to the city’s adoption procedures; the CDBG application will move forward if the mayor files and the grant is approved. Council closed the meeting after brief tributes to departing members and a motion to adjourn.

Note: the meeting record shows adoption motions, suspensions of rules, and roll-call/voice votes recorded in the transcript; full procedural records and ordinance/resolution texts are maintained in the city clerk’s official docket.