The 9th District Urban Services District (USD) will have junk collection set-out on a select weekend in February, depending on your address.  You may begin setting out your junk Friday afternoon prior to your junk pick-up week and must have it all out by Monday at 6:00 AM.  For your specific junk set-out weekend please visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-9 and scroll to the bottom of the page to “MyLouisville” and enter your address, call the office at 574-1109, or email Kyle Ethridge.  For collection guidelines please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-works/services/junk-and-bulk-trash-disposal. You may now sign up for junk set out reminders by email and text under “MyLouisville”.

In the last year, Metro Council has taken several steps to promote the use of solar energy in Louisville.  In August, the Council approved a resolution which I sponsored, urging all Metro Agencies and Departments to support the vigorous growth of solar energy in Louisville and to aggressively pursue strategies designed to meet this goal.   The resolution lists some specific strategies that should be considered, including a city-wide education program, streamlining permitting, integrating solar into public infrastructure and streetlights, and others.  It also notes the economic and environmental benefits of solar installation.  You can read it by clicking here.  Later in the year, eight Council members, including me, made appropriations from Neighborhood Development Funds, to help start the education program, now called “Solar Over Louisville” (SOL), which is a program of the Louisville Sustainability Council.

Solar Over Louisville’s goal is to make Louisville a leading city in solar energy, educate the community about its benefits and cost savings potential and advocate for solar policy in Louisville.  Last night, SOL kicked off the campaign at an event at Crescent Hill Craft House in D9.  A more formal news conference will be held soon.  It will feature announcements on progress toward an ambitious solar wattage goal for 2016, solar projects coming to Louisville and the introduction of the newly appointed SOL Program Manager, Paul Brooks.  There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers with local solar installers.  We'll let you know when a date and location is confirmed.   

We’d like to feature your sustainability story - a resident or business doing good things for the environment.  Riding the bus, bicycling, walking, gardening and more - our eNews will feature practices which can benefit all of us.  Send your story to Bill Hollander or Kyle Ethridge. 

My office is partnering with the Louisville Asset Building Coalition (LABC) to provide FREE tax preparation services again in 2016. The service is FREE if you earned $55,000 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or less in 2015 or if you quality for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Call the office today to see if you qualify and make your appointment! Appointments are available on four Fridays (Feb. 19, Mar. 18 and Apr. 1) between 9:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please call the office at 574-3908 to make an appointment. 

Do you instead file your own taxes? Through the LABC website there are two options to self-file online. The “Turbo Tax Freedom Edition” is available if you have $31,000 or less in income. The software has a well-designed interview process that guides you through the process of making decisions about your filing status, inputting your income and making decisions about deductions and tax credits for which you may qualify. The other option is “My Free Taxes”, which is available if you make $60,000 or less. This program is developed by H&R Block and uses an interview process. Please visit, http://labcservices.org/index.php/free-tax-filing-at-labc-services, for more information.

The AARP also has a tax-aide program; AARP Foundation Tax-Aide helps low-and moderate income taxpayers (moderate income is generally considered to be an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $55,000), with special attention to those 60 and older. One of their sites is located in D9 at Clifton Christian Church, 131 Vernon Avenue. They offer tax preparation on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Please note they will be closed on February 24. These sites are first-come, first-serve and early arrival is suggested. If you have any questions please call 394-3443 or visit http://www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org/Sites/sites.html.

You may qualify to file your federal and Kentucky Individual income tax returns for free through KentuckyFreeFile, http://revenue.ky.gov/FFAOffers.htm. You can review the offers from the vendors. To ensure you can file both your federal and state returns for free please access these Free File products from the link above.

With the last snow melting, we are left with many new potholes throughout the City. Please help by reporting these potholes so they can be filled promptly.

Citizens are urged to report potholes to MetroCall by dialing 311 or 574-5000. Reports may also be made through an online service request at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metrocall-311 . You can now download a smartphone application to report issues.  For more information click here. Potholes on interstate highways should be reported to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at 1-877-For-KYTC (367-5982).

Potholes result from a combination of water that seeps through cracks caused by normal wear and tear in asphalt, repeated freezing and thawing temperatures, and the weight of traffic. Cold temperatures cause the water to freeze and expand, weakening the pavement. The weight of traffic on the weakened pavement then breaks the asphalt, eventually leaving a hole that grows as more traffic goes over it.

Please help us make driving better and safer by reporting potholes to MetroCall. 

Louisville Metro has recently partnered with Waze through the Connected Citizens Program, making it easier to keep up with traffic and street closings around town. Please visit: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-works/services/road-and-street-closures for more information. The Waze application is available through Googleplay, AppStore and Windows Phone Store.

For a listing of upcoming event closures please visit: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-works/services/road-and-street-closures.

Metro Parks wants to hear from you! Your feedback is very important and will be used to help determine priorities for developing services for the community. Take the survey by clicking below:

Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation 2016 Needs Assessment

After a postponement due to snow, Café LOUIE, a Bingham Fellows project, is bringing Sen. Morgan McGarvey and Rep. Mary Lou Marzian to the Crescent Hill Library, 2762 Frankfort Avenue on Saturday, February 20, at 9:00 a.m., to meet the public and learn about the on-going session of the Kentucky General Assembly. It’s one of a series of meetings with legislators being held around Jefferson County. 

Each of the Café LOUIE meetings features one or two members of Louisville’s 28-member legislative delegation at library branches within or near their districts. The meetings take place on Saturday mornings from 9 - 10:00 a.m., January until early April. The public is invited to attend and is encouraged to ask questions.

Here’s the complete Café LOUIE schedule. 

Join Your Neighbors and Police Officers from the 5th Division for Coffee and Conversation on Wednesday, February 24 from 10:00 a.m. – Noon at Vint Coffee Shop, 2309 Frankfort Avenue. There will be no agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the men and women who protect and serve you every day.

Louisville Metro Government will begin accepting External Agency Fund applications on Thursday, February 25, 2016 for FY17 (July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017). These General Funded grants are awarded to non-governmental, or "external” agencies, that contribute to the city's cultural, social and economic vitality. 

All agencies wishing to submit an application are required to have at least one representative participate in a mandatory orientation webinar.  There will be a live webinar held on Feb. 25 at 10:30 a.m. The session is approximately 90 minutes and will cover eligibility, the application process, and provide instructions for the on-line application. Interested applicants who are unable to participate at this time should contact the EAF team to make alternative arrangements. To register for the webinar, please contact the External Agency Fund (EAF) staff at EAF@louisvilleky.gov and include your name, email address, and agency name.

The grants are available for Social Services programs, administered by the Louisville Metro Department of Community Services (LMCS), and for Arts and Creative Industries programs, administered by the Louisville Metro Department of Economic Development. The External Agency Funds are awarded annually to non-profit organizations offering programs or services in Louisville/Jefferson County that align with the departments’ missions and strategic goals.

Applications will be reviewed by two External Agency Fund panels, which include Metro Council members and community members, and those recommendations will be included in Mayor Fischer’s recommended FY17 Metro budget.

Louisville Metro Government employs a competitive granting strategy and strives to award funding to agencies that demonstrate measurable positive impact in the community and are good stewards of taxpayer dollars.  Successful grantees will be required to report on their success in meeting goals and outcomes.

The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 18, 2016 by 5 p.m.

For more information about EAF, as well as a listing of previous recipients, visit http://louisvilleky.gov/government/external-agency-fund.  Please submit all questions to EAF@louisvilleky.gov.  

Plan to attend the second Chenoweth Lane Public Meeting on Monday, February 29 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Broadway Baptist Church, 4000 Brownsboro Road, 40207. This meeting is to get input from the public on potential changes to Chenoweth Lane between Shelbyville Road and Brownsboro Road. Representatives from the KY Transportation Cabinet and their consultants will be available to answer questions. 

State officials have announced the proposed 3-lane widening of Chenoweth Lane will no longer be considered, a decision I supported. Other alternatives are still being considered and will be presented at this public meeting. Some changes suggested include drainage, pedestrian and bicycle facilities. 

Written and oral comments will be accepted during the meeting. Written comments will be accepted at the District Five Office, Attn: Judi Hickerson, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, 8310 Westport Road, Louisville, KY 40242.