radioNOVO News for Bowling Green: July 22, 2026

RNN BOWLING GREEN 07/22/26          THE BOWLING GREEN FIRE DEPARTMENT IS MOVING AHEAD WITH PLANS FOR A NINTH FIRE STATION TO KEEP PACE WITH THE CITY'S RAPID GROWTH. FIRE CHIEF JUSTIN BROOKS SAYS YEARS OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE DATA IDENTIFIED THE RUSSELL ROAD AREA AS A TOP PRIORITY. IF APPROVED, THE CITY'S FIRST TWO-STORY STATION COULD BREAK GROUND IN 2027 AND OPEN IN 2028, IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES IN ONE OF BOWLING GREEN'S FASTEST-GROWING NEIGHBORHOODS.          BOWLING GREEN EXPECTS TO COLLECT OVER 600-THOUSAND DOLLARS THROUGH A NEW DEVELOPER FEE PROGRAM AIMED AT FUNDING LOCAL STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS. THE OPT-IN FEES CHARGE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS UP TO 12-THOUSAND DOLLARS PER ACRE, ALLOWING BUILDERS TO SKIP CONSTRUCTING ON-SITE DRAINAGE WHILE GENERATING FUNDS FOR CRITICAL CITYWIDE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.          LEGAL BATTLES CONTINUE OVER A PROPOSED DATA CENTER IN CAVE CITY. THE JOINT CITY-COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RESPONDED TO A LAWSUIT FILED BY KENTUCKY INDUSTRIAL ALLIANCE, ASKING A JUDGE TO DISMISS CLAIMS AGAINST THEM. THE DEVELOPER'S SUIT CHALLENGES THE CITY’S ANNEXATION OF A TWO-HUNDRED-FORTY-FIVE-ACRE SITE, ARGUING A HISTORIC CEMETERY WAS INCLUDED WITHOUT OWNER CONSENT. CAVE CITY OFFICIALS HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED, WHILE A SEPARATE HEARING ON THE CITY'S DATA CENTER MORATORIUM IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 24TH.