News from BG: October 7, 2020
FIRE PREVENTION MESSAGES

October is Fire Prevention Month. Each edition of the eNews in October will feature a message from the Fire Division about this important topic. These messages will include information about common mistakes or issues.

Visit the Fire Division webpage for more information!
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA) has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8,1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.
OCTOBER BRUSH COLLECTION
The window to schedule an October Brush Collection will be open from October 1 to October 12. Residents may GO ONLINE to register their address for this month’s collection!

Residents may also call 419-354-6227 to be added to the list of locations where crews will stop.

Collection is scheduled to begin on October 19. Those who do not register by October 12 will NOT be included on the collection route! This will be the last brush collection for 2020.

For collection guidelines, click HERE.
City Offers Tips for
Reducing Utility Bills

Are you spending more time at home and noticing an increase in your utility bill? Spending more time at home likely means using more electricity and water, which can lead to higher utility bills. While utility rate increases can be part of the cause of higher utility bills, there is usually more to the story.

In July 2020, Bowling Green’s residential customers experienced an increase of $0.00301/kWh in the energy charge and $0.50 increase in the monthly customer charge. This is approximately a 2.5% increase when comparing similar monthly usage. Despite this relatively small adjustment in rates, many have been caught off guard by higher than expected utility bills. While situations vary, the Utilities Department offers the following suggestions......MORE
Tree Photo Contest
Entries Due October 31st

Interested in participating in the 2020 Tree Commission Photo Contest? There's still time! The Commission is accepting photos highlighting trees in all four seasons – winter, spring, summer, and fall!

The deadline to submit entries is October 31. Finalists will be selected by the Tree Commission. Once finalists are selected, the public will be invited to vote in order to identify the top photo for each season.

Questions? Contact the City's Arborist by email: arborist@bgohio.org or phone: 419-353-4101
Residents Encouraged
to get a Flu Vaccine

The Wood County Health Department encourages residents to get a flu vaccine.

Getting a flu vaccine is a safe step people can take to prepare themselves and their family for any flu season, but is more important this year.

COVID-19 has made this year a challenge for everyone. You can reduce the chances of you or your family having to have to deal with flu this year by getting your flu shot now.

When you take steps to prevent getting the flu, it makes you less likely to have symptoms also common for COVID-19 that could keep you at home waiting for test results......MORE
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to use caution and plan ahead for Halloween festivities. Click HERE for Recommended Best Practices provided by the State.
ELECTION SIGN PLACEMENT GUIDELINES

  • The sign may not block any visibility or be located in the visibility triangle.
  • Signs are not permitted in the right-of-way unless a permit is first obtained from the Municipal Administrator (Ex: Garage Sale or Real Estate signs). Such permits are discretionary and limited to a day.

Questions may be directed to the Planning Department.
Refuse & Recycling Container Address Labels
The Public Works Department has resumed the work of placing address labels on all refuse and recycling containers that are picked up by the City. Crews have completed the majority of Wards 1 & 2 and have begun Wards 3 & 4. City employees will be applying labels on containers placed at the curb on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday’s collection route.

Residents, whose scheduled collection day is on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday, are asked to help in this effort by placing containers – full or empty – at the curb on their regular collection day. Containers should not be pulled back to the house until 4:00 PM that day. This will help crews move through streets efficiently, missing as few addresses as possible. This work will be ongoing over the next several months and...MORE