By Peter Kuebeck
A Bowling Green police officer was honored for his lifesaving work during Monday’s council meeting.
Officer Mike Geiman received the Meritorious Service Award for saving a man who was choking earlier this year.
“We recognize that today was a sad day in Bowling Green, with the events that happened at El Zarape,” said Bowling Green Police Chief Tony Hetrick, referring to a shooting that occurred at that restaurant earlier that day, “but we’re going to have a little departure from that.”
Hetrick said that on March 7, Geiman arrived at the Circle K North location and observed that Bobbie Barnett was in the driver’s seat of his vehicle, choking on a piece of sandwich. He said that others had attempted to assist Barnett before Geiman’s arrival but were unsuccessful.
Geiman helped Barnett out of his vehicle and performed the Heimlich maneuver on him multiple times, dislodging the item.
Barnett was present at Monday’s meeting and praised Geiman.
“If he hadn’t have been there, I would have died,” Barnett said. “He saved my life. God bless him so much.”
Also at the meeting, council:
• Heard Mayor Mike Aspacher share a proclamation in honor of Arbor Day. He noted that Bowling Green has been recognized as a Tree City USA for 43 consecutive years, and has also received the Tree City Growth Award for 29 years.
• Saw Bowling Green High School senior Hannah Mathey honored for receiving a $3,000 scholarship from American Municipal Power. Mathey plans to attend Bowling Green State University to study political science.
• Heard from resident Rose Drain regarding her concerns about non-conforming properties.
“I am hoping you will consider a long-term solution to the issues of non-conforming uses: propose and adopt an amendment (to the zoning code update) to add the following: ‘Any building which is a legal or illegal non-conforming use at the time of the enactment of this code will be subject to an amortization period after which the building must be restored to a legal conforming use for the zone or district within which it is located,” Drain said in a statement distributed at the meeting. “The city work should move as quickly as possible toward making buildings legally conforming, not put (a) code in place that will continue non-conforming uses that will continue to perpetuate decades-long problems. I respectfully ask that you move on this request before the final vote on the zoning code update.”
• Heard from Lindsay Durham of Downtown Bowling Green that the 31st annual Art Walk will take place downtown May 13 from 11 a.m-3 p.m., with a reception following at the Wood County Senior Center from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Heard from resident Randy Rush, who asked for the city to look into what he said were noise issues at BG Beer Works. “Somebody needs to check into this,” he said.
• Heard from resident Kathleen Dennis, regarding the proposed mixed-use neighborhood in the city’s zoning code update. She urged the city to actively engage the community about what they want that area to be. “You need to start looking at what the community wants,” she said.
• Heard from resident Matt Sayer, who asked what can be done about what he described as a problem with speeders on West Gypsy Lane Road.
• Heard from Suzanne Midden, who expressed her concerns about trees in the city being crowded out by development. She noted the benefits of trees, and said “people are talking about disappearance of trees” along Wooster and Maple streets, and other roadways.
• Heard from Councilman Greg Robinette that council’s finance committee will meet at 6 p.m. on May 15 to deal with an American Rescue Plan Act funds request from a citizen.
• Heard a number of meeting announcements from Council President Mark Hollenbaugh. He noted that a public hearing regarding the zoning code will take place May 17 at 6 p.m. at the Veterans Building at City Park. Further, June council meeting dates have changed – the meetings will be held June 12 and June 29. Also, due to the move from the current city administration building to the new building, there will be no council meetings in July.
