News from BG: March 29, 2023

Native Prairie Restoration Projects Planned for

City’s Water & Wastewater Treatment Facilities

The City of Bowling Green has been strategically converting its green spaces from high-maintenance, non-native turf areas to low-maintenance, native areas to meet sustainability goals and initiatives. Planting of low-maintenance, native vegetation provides numerous environmental benefits, which include habitat creation for monarch butterflies and other pollinators, carbon storage, increased biodiversity, stormwater retention, and more. This practice also reduces the resources needed for extensive management, reducing fuel, time, money, and pollution attributable to mowing large spaces on a weekly basis during the growing season. When established properly, the native plants and flowers also increase scenic value.

Over the years, the City’s focus has primarily been on increasing native spaces within its park properties and surrounding the solar field property. This year, those efforts will expand to the City’s Wastewater and Water Treatment facilities. Beginning in March 2023, site preparation will begin at both sites, which will include killing the existing turf grass. Throughout this year’s growing season, the areas to be planted will look dead, but will quickly bounce back to life next spring after the seeds, which will be planted this fall with assistance from Pheasants Forever, begin to grow with the warmer months and spring rains.

This restoration process will take approximately three years to complete. Over the next three years, those passing by the facilities will witness an exciting transformation of the spaces. Native flowers and prairie grasses will grow to an average height of 3-4 feet and cover most of the area surrounding the Wastewater Treatment Facility (~14.5 acres) and a large portion of the front lawn of the Water Treatment Facility (~1.5 acres).

Maps have been included to better outline the areas that will remain lawn compared to the areas that will be restored to native prairie grasses.

Water Treatment Plant Area Native Plant Map (PDF)

Wastewater Treatment Area Native Plant Map (PDF)

April Brush Collection

The window to schedule an April Brush Collection will be open from April 1 to April 10. Residents may go online to register their address for this month’s collection beginning April 1st! 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 April 17. Those who do not call in or go online to register by April 10 will NOT be included on the collection route! This will be the first brush collection for the year. The next collection will be in May 2023.

Brush Collection Guidelines

Online Registration Begins April 1st

Residents Encouraged to "Be Tick Smart!"

While preparing to enjoy the outdoors with family, friends, and pets it’s good to be prepared and “Be Tick Smart!” Diseases spread by ticks are an increasing concern in Ohio and are being reported to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) more frequently in the past decade, with Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) being the most common.

The community is invited to a “Be Tick Smart” presentation on April 12, 2023, at 7:00 PM, located at the Veterans Memorial Building, City Park, 520 Conneaut Avenue, Bowling Green. Leeanne Garrett MPH-VPH, Public Health Entomologist, ODH, will provide information on the surveillance methods being used throughout the state to monitor tick populations, the species of ticks found in Ohio, the potential diseases they can carry, and ways to “Be Tick Smart!”...Continue Reading Tick Smart

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Tree Removal to Result in New Art Installation

Three trees are scheduled to be removed from City Park – one Bur Oak tree and two Maple trees. The City Arborist has concluded that one of the Maple trees requires removal due to poor health and risk to the public. The other Maple and a Bur Oak are being removed due to root damage sustained and caused by the close proximity of the trees during paving of City Park Drive and preparing for upgraded lighting and security.

The Bur Oak will be reclaimed and used for a new sculpture in City Park by nationally acclaimed local mosaic artist, Gail Christofferson, Animal House Glass. Ms. Christofferson and her team approached the City about a desire to create and install a new sculpture in City Park prior to the Arborist’s determination of the three trees being removed. Their plan provides an opportunity to re-use the oak tree in creating a dome-like structure and a seating area in the center of the dome. A mosaic incorporated into the structure will create a new and unique place to take a moment to relax and reflect while visiting City Park.

Tree removal work is anticipated to begin at the end of March at the earliest.

Earth Month Electronic Waste Recycling Drive

BGSU's Office of Campus Sustainability has partnered with its certified electronic waste recycling provider, AIM Ecycling, to provide residents of the City of Bowling Green and the surrounding community with a free, safe, and environmentally-responsible way to dispose of their unwanted and/or outdated electronics.

Electronics Recycling Accepted Materials & Event Details

April 1, 2023

9:00 AM — 1:00 PM

Lot 10 (North side of Slater Family Ice Arena)

Drive-In/Drive-Out/No Contact

*No Tube TVs or CRT screens

Questions may be emailed to:

greenbg@bgsu.edu

State of the City Address

If you are interested in attending the event in-person, please RSVP by Tuesday, March 28.

RSVP for State of City

The City of Bowling Green in partnership with the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce and its Governmental Affairs Project Team present the 2023 State of the City Address on Tuesday, April 4 in the Veterans Memorial Building Atrium, 2294 Legion Drive in City Park.

Doors will open at 7:30 a.m., with address beginning at 8:00 a.m. This event is free and open to the public and coffee and a light breakfast will be provided.

This year’s address will feature remarks from Mayor Mike Aspacher.

For those unable to attend in-person, you can listen to the address live with Clint Corpe of The Morning Show 88.1 FM WBGU or stream it.

Thank you to Bowling Green Economic Development for sponsoring this event.

Historic Preservation Commission Call for Historic Properties

The Historic Preservation Commission has chosen to celebrate National Historic Preservation Month by establishing a self-guided walking tour of Bowling Green's historic homes and buildings. Residents are encouraged to sign up their property online by providing basic details about their home or building. Residents who sign up will receive a yard sign indicating "History Lives Here," which will help bring awareness to local preservation and recognize properties included in the self-guided walking tour throughout May.

Sign up your property here or by emailing or calling the Planning Department at (419) 354-6218 by Friday, April 7th, 2023.

Income Tax Reminders

Income Tax Forms

Income Tax FAQs

Need help completing your forms?

Call 419-354-6212

The City of Bowling Green tax filing due date is April 18, 2023 for 2022 tax returns. Payments of your 2022 tax return and first quarter 2023 estimated tax payment are also due April 18, 2023.

The Bowling Green Income Tax Division requires a copy of your Federal tax return (Form 1040) and all W-2s. If you are claiming Bowling Green withholding or a credit for taxes paid to another municipality, your W-2 needs to report this withholding.

Income tax filings may be turned in using the drop box located outside the building or mailed in. Staff will frequently check the drop box throughout the business day (Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm).

Those who are planning to file income tax returns in person are strongly encouraged to do so well in advance of the April 18th deadline in order to avoid long lines. Parking is available in the Library Parking Lot and in City Parking Lot 4.

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