A recent gas line issue that caused an evacuation of the downtown last week received some comment at
Monday’s Bowling Green City Council meeting.
“I was really impressed with the way everyone responded to that ugly incident,” said Mayor Richard
Edwards during his remarks.
On March 26, a mandatory evacuation of downtown Bowling Green was ordered following a gas leak at Clough
and Main streets, and lasted for three-and-a-half hours. Crews reportedly struck a gas line in the 200
block of South Main Street. A water line was broken on March 25 in the downtown area as well.
The downtown area has been affected recently by work to install water and sewer lines on Main and Wooster
streets.
Last month’s incidents came just six months after a “dangerously high” gas leak involving crews from
Columbia Gas that forced the evacuation of the 100 block of South Main Street in mid-September. At the
time, Columbia Gas was in the midst of a $1.3-million project to update infrastructure and replace pipes
downtown.
“The natural gas line break really caused us all a great deal of stress this last week,” Edwards said.
“Back to back with one thing that was probably the fault of the city in the water line thing – that was
an engineering error that everyone owned up to – but the following day to have that natural gas leak
with the incident with the backhoe.
“Our fire and police went at that right away, our public utilities, public works, especially of course
our city administration, all hands were on deck to deal with that situation.”
Edwards said that Assistant Municipal Administrator Joe Fawcett drafted a report on the incident and
praised the document.
Edwards said that there will be an after-action review of the incident.
“All principles will come back together to make sure everything was done according to all the protocols
that we have in place” and to see if any changes need to be made, Edwards said.
Also at the meeting, council:
• Saw Edwards present a proclamation declaring April 2019 as Fair Housing Month. Such a declaration is
made every year in honor of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Edwards said he will also be delivering the
proclamation Friday at the city’s Human Relations Commission meeting.
• Heard from Edwards that the fire division is undergoing its periodic re-accreditation process, and that
a four-person review team comprised of individuals from Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas is in
town for the purpose.
• Heard from Edwards that Gov. Mike DeWine issued his proposed 2020-21 budget last week.
“From our perspective, I’m particularly grateful” that the proposal includes a 9.1 percent increase to
the local government fund in fiscal year 2020, and a 1.8 percent increase in fiscal year 2021.
“This is encouraging,” said Edwards.
• Heard from Public Utilities Director Brian O’Connell that a filtration upgrade at the water treatment
plant is taking place. Council President Michael Aspacher noted the quality of the water that is being
produced by the plant, and that it’s a mark of distinction for the city in the region.
• Heard from Public Works Director Brian Craft that, among other upcoming projects, on April 15 the
bridge deck of the Wooster Street overpass over Interstate 75 will have work starting on the southern
half for 30 days. Drivers will be able to proceed eastbound, but westbound drivers will have to use
Dunbridge, Poe and Mercer roads.
• Heard that the Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee of council will meet June 3 at 6
p.m. to review the recent East Wooster Street strategy for redevelopment report, and to develop a list
of recommendations to be presented for council action.
• Heard that a committee-of-the-whole meeting will be held on May 20 at 6 p.m. to discuss proposed
revisions to Chapter 94, section 152 of the city’s ordinances, dealing with enforcement of civil
infractions.