| Library board wants to limit parking lot incidents |
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| Written by PETER KUEBECK Sentinel Staff Writer | |
| Saturday, 23 June 2012 07:55 | |
The discussion began last month after the board learned that, since 2010, there have been more than 179 incident reports and 122 arrests in the two library parking lots on Church Street. In contrast, the two city lots adjacent to the library’s property, Lot 4 and Lot 6, have had six reports and four arrests over the same period. All of the incidents have occurred between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., and include offenses such as public urination, open containers in motor vehicles, underage possession of alcohol, fighting, and possession of marijuana. The offenders are largely not university students, but individuals who have come into the city to partake in its nightlife. The Bowling Green Police Division has requested that the library barricade its parking lot in the overnight hours, a suggestion the board was hesitant to adopt. “I would hate to see our lots closed during the Black Swamp Arts Festival,” said Library Director Michael Penrod, later noting that “we’re an organization that’s tax-funded, we depend on the goodwill of the community.” “I want to be a good downtown neighbor.” Penrod did indicate that in the nighttime hours he had seen as many as 40 vehicles parked in library lots. It was noted that hiring an off-duty officer to patrol the site would cost $37 an hour, and to have an officer patrol on weekends could cost as much as $15,000 per year. A local towing company has informed the library of the possibility of starting a private impound service to tow vehicles from the lots in the nighttime hours at no cost to the library. Board President Brian Paskvan stated that the majority of the board was not comfortable with barricading the lots and preferred a “good neighbor” policy. They intend to return to discussions with the Police Division on the matter. In other business, the board: • Heard that the annual Library Foundation benefit at Schedel Gardens, Elmore, will be held July 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. Garden tours will begin at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 and available at the library. Penrod noted that the foundation has an “aggressive” goal of raising $65,000 for the event, all of which will go toward purchasing books, ebooks, and audio books for the library. “Even with state funding and even with the levy, private fundraising is just as crucial as ever,” he said. “State funding continues to decline, levy receipts declined” due to decreased property valuations in the county. “This event will continue to be important.” • Learned that the next Community Reads book for the city will be “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice” by Laurie R. King. The novel, a historical mystery, takes place in England when a young woman meets a retired gentleman who happened to have been a certain famous “consulting detective” during his working life. • Heard that ebook numbers and circulation at the library continue to rise. There are 18,000 titles in their ebook collection, with 19,000 holds on them. Circulation for the books is up 200 percent so far this year. |
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| Last Updated on Saturday, 23 June 2012 07:58 |
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Comments
If they gate the lots at night, it helps the BGPD crack-down on crime, in lots that are near homes and family residences surrounding it. The city-hall lot isn't having the issue. The Senior Center isn't having the issues. But clearly, for whatever reason, the library lots are. Something clearly has to change, at least for the near-term. Then the lots can be reopened, if needed.
While the City and BGPD is at it, it might be nice if they would take a look at the parade of humanity occupying the east lot of Victory Inn, or the hookers meeting truckers in the west lot. Or the legal certifications to host long-term residents at that place. That area is ripe for something very bad happening.
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