Bruce Wilkerson Sworn In As Bowling Green Mayor; Opponent And "Temporary" Mayor Joe Denning Appointed His City Commission Replacement, While Melinda Hill Is Also Sworn In As City Commissioner.

New mayor sworn in
Wilkerson, Hill take seats after election; Denning appointed to commission
By ANDREW ROBINSON

Just one week after he prevailed in the city’s special election, Bruce Wilkerson was sworn in as Bowling Green’s mayor before Tuesday night’s regular commission meeting.

“It’s been a long journey and I’m glad we came to the conclusion and can get back together and get down to business with the city,” Wilkerson said.

Commissioner Melinda Hill, who was victorious in the Nov. 8 election, was sworn in as well.

Hill was appointed in March to fill Joe Denning’s commission seat after Denning became mayor, replacing outgoing Mayor Elaine Walker. Gov. Steve Beshear had appointed Walker as Kentucky’s secretary of state.

Hill said Tuesday night felt much different than when she was appointed. “This was a lot different because the whole public knew about it,” Hill said. “In March, it seemed very secretive. So to me, tonight was, I shouldn’t say more exciting, but a little less stressful because people knew what was going to happen.”

With Wilkerson and Hill sworn in, the commission had 30 days to appoint a new commissioner to fill Wilkerson’s seat.

That move only required 30 minutes.

Once the regular meeting started, Wilkerson asked the commission to add an item to the agenda so the commission could vote to appoint Denning, who was defeated by Wilkerson in last week’s election. The vote came just half an hour after Wilkerson was sworn in.

“He was elected in 2010 for a two-year term,” Wilkerson said. “He stepped up to fill the role as mayor when Mrs. Walker left and it seemed logical to continue to do what the people elected him to do in the first place.”

Denning, a 17-year veteran of the commission, wasn’t a part of it for roughly a half hour before the commission voted 3-1 to appoint him to the commission.

“I’m honored to be back and look forward to doing the best I can in the upcoming weeks,” Denning said.

Commissioner Bill Waltrip voted against Denning’s appointment, saying he believed it should have gone to the second-place finisher - Robin Baldwin - in last week’s commissioner election.

Waltrip said he discussed his feelings with Denning last week knowing the vote may come up Tuesday night.

“Joe’s reaction was just what I thought it would be,” Waltrip said. “Joe told me he understood my position and encouraged me to vote with my convictions. It is my belief that my vote against this municipal order is not a negative reflection against Joe and will no way affect my relationship with him.”

There was little debate in an open forum about Denning’s appointment and several commissioners were open to the idea since he was defeated last week.

Denning said he had no hard feelings against Waltrip.

“Billy Waltrip is one of the finest men you’d run across anywhere in the world,” Denning said. “That’s one of the good points about him that if he believes in something, he sticks with it.”

The commission also voted to approve the city’s Capital Improvement Program for fiscal year 2011-12 through fiscal year 2014-15.

The commission also voted to approve the issuance of $11 million in water-sewer bonds by the city for Bowling Green Municipal Utilities to build its new building near Eighth Avenue and Center Street. The expected cost of the building is $11.7 million.

City Attorney Gene Harmon made it clear to the commission the bonds have no burden on taxpayers.