The following is a dataset of comments from an online discussion about Improving Bowling Green / Warren County. Assign a terse title to each topic based on the given keywords. Avoid repetitive phrases.
Question: What do you believe should change in Bowling Green/Warren County in order to make it a better place to live, work and spend time?
Topic 0:
Keywords: road, drivers, traffic, lane, roads, bypass, intersection, turn, congestion, cemetery
Example Comments: Widen Cemetry Road, Russellville Road, Lover’s Lane, Campbell Lane, The Old ByPass, and Scotsville Road from old ByPass to Natcher Parkway.; Smallhouse Rd (at Campbell Ln) heading into town needs to be widened to have room for three lanes (left turn, straight, right turn).; Access Rd, east side of Scottsville Rd. in shopping dist causes congestion. Give right of way to access road or cross streets, not a mix!
Topic Title: Improving Road Infrastructure and Traffic Flow
Topic 1:
Keywords: fairness, ordinance, noise, improvement, city, separation, lawns, code, food, ideas
Example Comments: City officials need to work with WKU admin. to address the noise & public nuisance problems with the frat houses and homeowners downtown.; NO to the "Fairness" Ordinance. Current law is sufficient. ZERO reported instances where LGBTQ people have been discriminated against in BG; The city should craft a very simple fairness ordinance, saying no discrimination acquiring housing, but not giving LGBTQ EEOC Bypass @work
Topic Title: Equal Rights and Fairness in the Community
Topic 2:
Keywords: drug, marijuana, opioid, doctors, drugs, pain, deaths, dealers, sex, possession
Example Comments: The fact that there is not as much coverage about African American deaths from cocaine as there is about deaths in the white community from opioids, even though there are as many of them, is evidence of institutionalized racism.; In order to combat teen pregnancy and STD rates, high schools in Bowling Green should offer comprehensive, medically accurate sex education.; In order to better combat the opioid epidemic, it is time to view drug addiction as a health problem rather than a criminal justice problem.
Topic Title: Health and Substance Abuse
Topic 3:
Keywords: homeless, parks, park, house, hangout, tiny house, community, aid, benefit, size
Example Comments: We need to replace "Room at the Inn" services with temporary decent housing connected to aid agencies for the homeless; I would like to see more aid for the homeless whether: tiny house park, health clinic, rehabilitation, job readiness sources.; Homeless people deserve full size places like studio apartments. Not tiny homes like a smurf would desire in a tiny house park.
Topic Title: Homelessness and Housing
Topic 4:
Keywords: programs, activities, weekend, training, higher education, youth, museum, credit, teenagers, job
Example Comments: A favorite place to visit (elsewhere) is a park filled with gently used toys (donated). It inspires imagination, creativity and sharing.; We a true junior college which offers credit / non credit courses like many other states from basket weaving to cyber security; Need comprehesive probation rehab programs - include addiction treatment, life & job skills & ideas securing housing, training/job etc
Topic Title: Education, Youth Development and Community Programs
Topic 5:
Keywords: school, schools, parents, public schools, public school, kids, choice, education, charter, districts
Example Comments: Future charter schools would be a financial burden to public school funding, unless they are held to accountability by local school boards.; some children with cultural differences or dietary needs cannot eat a typical lunch at school please provide special diet options.; Both school districts shamefully manipulate low economic status parents to gain Title I funding. It should stop.
Topic Title: Public Education Funding and Equity
Topic 6:
Keywords: vote, officials, proposal, project, power, seller, influence, local officials, funds, unelected boards
Example Comments: Officials that use social media accounts in a professional capacity should not be allowed to block constituents except under rare conditions like being threatened.; Big names and corporations get away with too much. We need fairer regulation and level playing fields for the small and big guys alike.; Local elected government officials should not be able to hold a seat and also be on the TIF board or other unelected boards.
Topic Title: Ethics, Transparency and Public Officials
Topic 7:
Keywords: campus, program, university, students, local businesses, miles, restaurants, courses, mental health, center
Example Comments: Residential Parking Permits for areas near WKU. We can rescue our yards from parking. We pay property taxes for the students' convenience,; Provide a food assistance program for college students as students lots of times do not qualify for food stamps due to living on campus; Make areas around WKU's campus livable for college students. Eliminating section 8 housing will lead to less crime & lower cost of attendance.
Topic Title: College Campus and Student Life
Topic 8:
Keywords: river, immigrants, refugees, tourists, demographic, riverfront, communities, ways, art, immigrant
Example Comments: Need engaging art installations throughout the city. People will be able to experience art, have fun, and share on social media.; The very low number of immigrants coming to our county last year was a good thing. Saves costs: Schools, courts, social services-Our taxes!; The Barren River water front needs to be improved on both sides of the river and include canoeing and kayaking water features in the river.
Topic Title: Multiculturalism and tourism
Topic 9:
Keywords: parking, space, garage, yard, square, shade, mall, trees, downtown, pedestrian
Example Comments: Better parking around the square would draw in more college students who like to shop but can not find parking downtown.; Owners of large parking lots should be required to break them up with pockets of green space and trees; perhaps create a walkable green path; Build parking garage behind Spencer’s, remove some parking from Ft. Square. Add a green space on top of garage! Soccer field or rooftop food
Topic Title: Parking and Urban Design
Topic 10:
Keywords: police, cops, parking, enforcement, traffic, accidents, cameras, officers, tickets, presence
Example Comments: Houston "courtesy police" maintain safety on access rds enforcing right of way & parking/litter rules, assist traffic flow - we need!; BG needs to install traffic cameras that help police intersections like Gallatin, TN. This would reduce accidents, traffic flow and add $; BGDN should publish these BGPD stats weekly – 1) traffic citations 2) vehicle accidents reported; 3) traffic accidents resulting in injury.
Topic Title: Public Safety and Traffic Management
Topic 11:
Keywords: internet, cable, fiber, competition, rates, tv, choices, option, media, companies
Example Comments: BGMU needs to offer residential fiber internet as a UTILITY, using Chattanooga as a perfect example.; Cable companies need competition and not be allowed to raise rates of customers. Once you sign on, that is your rate unless you upgrade.; Encourage growth of OTA tv stations. Lots of cord cutters and shavers enjoy the HD content they can get with an antenna.
Topic Title: Broadband and Television Competition
Topic 12:
Keywords: temp, wage, benefits, openings, minimum, retirement, employee, employer, wages, companies
Example Comments: Temp service need to pay higher hourly rate to temp than hiring firm pays their FTE to account for reduced economic security; City should bar garbage token health plans designed to prevent temp services paying $166/month Obamacare emp. fee. Let ppl get subsidy.; City needs to bar big COs employing from half a dozen temp services to keep 100s ineligble for FMLA due to less than 50 ppl/per 'employer'
Topic Title: Employment and Labor Standards
Topic 13:
Keywords: rental, rent, renters, rental property, properties, prices, property, landlords, units, laws
Example Comments: Rental property taxes should be reduced for private landlords to encourage them to develop more, as opposed to large ones like Chandler.; Stronger tenant and renters rights. Landlord accountability for keeping properties in good shape. So many overpriced dilapidated rentals.; Overdevelopment of rental property is detrimental to cities. Renters do not pay property tax. Schools suffer when the tax base is eroded.
Topic Title: Housing and Real Estate
Topic 14:
Keywords: sidewalks, bike, trails, walking, trail, walkers, great addition, biking, ramps, small ramps
Example Comments: Install new sidewalks along major roads, like Three Springs, and city-wide bike routes, to decrease likelihood of accidents; Make it a walking city. Sidewalks along the main avenues (scottsville rd, campbell ln, 31 bypass) with plants, benches, art pieces.; Have a Dual Slalom Course, Pump Track & Bike Skills Course co-located by the Low Hollow Mountain Bike Trail at Weldon Peete Park.
Topic Title: Pedestrian and Bike Infrastructure
Topic 15:
Keywords: water, fire, lines, population, growth, bills, new schools, septic tanks, new roads, new subdivisions
Example Comments: Need new schools in Warren County to keep up with population growth, CTE is falling down, Drakes and Greenwood high are way overcrowded; County needs to extend water lines in Tuckertown area. About a dozen homes don't have county water or fire hydrants!; Tuckertown area needs fire protection. Currently rated Class 10 expensive insurance. Water lines are close by on Otter Gap & Tuckertown Rds.
Topic Title: Utilities and Infrastructure
Topic 16:
Keywords: animals, smoking, pets, leashes, leash, dog, owners, ordinance, pet owners, stray
Example Comments: Better ordinances on keeping animals on leashes or in fenced areas are needed.; There should never be a leash law in the county - neighborhood dogs protect, play with and teach kids. It was a factor in living in county.; Relax restrictions on fencing in Home Owners Associations to promote people keeping animals on leashes or in fenced yards.
Topic Title: Animal Control and Pet Ownership Regulations
Topic 17:
Keywords: swimming, complex, swim, pools, lessons, facilities, sports, safety, year, therapy
Example Comments: Bowling Green needs more indoor sports facilities, particularly a large complex with multiple indoor soccer fields, for youth.; BG's Kummer Little gym is open limited hours for indoor track. On other hand, County has new gyms that are open lots of hrs. Inequitable.; Indoor swimming pools for public use and therapy year around without time restrictions due to special swim leagues. Encourage healthier life
Topic Title: Health and Recreation Facilities
Topic 18:
Keywords: historic preservation, preservation, planning, building, buildings, historic building, urban planning, heritage, retail businesses, banks
Example Comments: We need urban planning to ensure that mixed use housing, shopping and new neighborhoods are created to make our community better; Historic preservation of homes and buildings needs countywide attention to maintain our unique architectural heritage.; We must ensure historic preservation codes are properly enforced in our historic districts; lack of consistency erodes our unique aesthetic.
Topic Title: Urban Planning and Historic Preservation
Topic 19:
Keywords: recycling, litter, trash, bins, services, yards, junk, stronger enforcement, outdated equipment, dump
Example Comments: BG has a bad problem with littering. My husband and I fill up to 5 recycle bins every week between downtown and campus, cleaning it all up.; Make Scott Waste follow their contract - Return trash cans next to the house and not leave them on the sidewalks. Keep BG clean!; Recycling services need to be improved and modernized. Current contractor uses outdated equipment, services are messy, company unresponsive.
Topic Title: Waste Management and Refuse Collection
Topic 20:
Keywords: store, food, farmers, grocery, marketing, fresh food, local chefs, brewers, distance, eggs
Example Comments: BG needs to develop a marketing campaign to draw Warren Co and surrounding counties to downtown for eating, shopping, and entertainment.; A fresh food grocery store to be built in Delafield and Morgantown rd areas within walking distance of residents.; We need more businesses like White Squirrel and Nats in BG. They add character to our town. Done with the Olive Garden and Belks.
Topic Title: Local Food and Entrepreneurship
Topic 21:
Keywords: tax, homelessness, cents, occ, fund, homeless people, cuts, budget, taxes, overheads
Example Comments: Lower taxes by auditing every department for total accountability & make cuts where possible. Stop city government waste.; City had 109 homeless students in 2017, County Had 112. Housing those families temporarily is worth raising tax rate from 1.85% to 1.91%.; If city eliminates homelessness via occupational taxes, employers of homeless people need to reimburse city via special occ. tax penalty
Topic Title: Taxation and Homelessness
Topic 22:
Keywords: zoning, planning, land, apartments, single family, family, affected area, country, changes, residences
Example Comments: Too many apartments in Plano. Nice little country setting I bought my home in forever ruined!; We are loosing the city’s long established neighborhoods to multi family developments that do not fit in with the single family residences; Planning & Zoning Board needs an overhaul. Fewer builders appointed, fairness to opposition, stop rubber stamping by P&Z and City Comm.
Topic Title: Zoning and Land Use Planning