City commissioners approve pay raise

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-The Board of Commissioners bi-monthly meeting tends to bring up a variety of captivating issues for the city and Tuesday’s meeting was no different. 

The most significant decision of the night was the 3-2 vote to approve the increase of the commissioner’s salary to $31,500 from $16,000. 

Mayor Todd Alcott says that there’s been a discrepancy between what other region’s commissioner’s are paid across the Commonwealth of Kentucky compared to our city commissioner’s salary. 

“Whether you think they deserve this or not, I think it’s the right thing to do. I think it’s a reasonable rate and we want to take care of the commissioners because they take care of our community,” said Alcott. 

The new salary will go into effect for next year’s commissioners. 

Also a hot topic…the Board of Commissioners continued discussions on the entertainment destination center. They held the second reading of the order and now the next steps are to submit a plan to the state for approval. 

“All of our downtown partners are getting a partner with the city to work with them. Our goal is to increase their commerce, to bring new customers, to be a destination for Kentucky to come here, we have so many wonderful events,” said Alcott. 

Late June or early July is the most realistic date that the entertainment destination center would begin. 

Another new program brought up for the community is getting electric bikes around the campus of Western Kentucky University through a partnership with the company Take Wheels. 

“Sometimes it’s a little too far to walk so they drive. Well maybe if there’s a bike available they can take a quick ride on the bike. so it provides that short distance opportunity for transportation,” said Director of Neighborhood and Community Services Brent Childers.

The partnership would start out with 100 bikes. Lots happening in our community.