 Final design plans are taking shape for The New Dixie Highway project, meaning that look, feel and flow of the corridor will be greatly improved. Among those improvements:
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6-foot and 8-foot wide, boulevard-like sidewalks through almost 4 miles of the most-traveled section of Dixie Highway – improving safety and the “look” of the corridor. (Photo above is an area that will benefit from these new sidewalks.)
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Nearly four miles of badly-needed non-mountable landscaped medians in a section that experiences a very high rate of crashes. Medians like these have dropped crash rates by 30 percent or more in similar highways. We expect a significant drop here as well.
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Miles of new fiber optic cable, linking the entire corridor’s traffic signals for the first time. This will allow for more efficient, responsive traffic signals, including signal priority for rapid transit buses so bus traffic doesn’t slow travel for everyone else.
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Smart reconfiguring of some key intersections to make travel safer.
- And nearly 100 new trees, plus new grass and native plants to beautify the highway and designate Dixie Highway as an attractive, desirable place to live, visit and do business.
 The Division of Community Forestry has teamed up with the non-profit organization Trees Louisville to offer
Jefferson County residents up to 40% off the cost of a shade tree. Eligibility requirement are as follows:
- Tree must be considered a shade tree and selected from Division’s Master Tree List,
- Program open to Jefferson County, KY residents only,
- Max 3 submissions per household,
- Tree must measure at least 1inch in diameter at a point 6 inches above soil line,
- Tree must be purchased and planted between October 2016 – May 31, 2017,
- Rebates are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis while funds are available, and
- Rebate is only eligible for purchase price of tree (i.e. excludes tax, planting or delivery fees, etc.).
For additional information on this opportunity, please visit Trees Louisville website at https://treeslouisville.org/rebate/
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 Forest Hills Community Annual Yard Sale
Saturday, May 20th 8am to 2pm.
Rain or Shine
 Celebrate Troop 377's 50th anniversary
June 10, 2017 beginning at 12:00
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
9817 Dixie Highway
Activities will include a flag retirement celebration, scout skills demonstrations,
Come catch up with old friends, and make new ones. Opportunities for boys (10+) to join scouting.
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 Update as of 5/11/17
Traffic shifts and delays expected between Bethany Lane and Valley
Station Road (mile markers 7.7 to 8.6)) due to drainage pipe installation and
asphalt pavement replacement. Lane
closures are possible weeknights in the northbound lanes from 9:00 p.m. until
6:00 a.m. and in the southbound lanes from 9:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. Lane closures are also possible on weekends
from 9:00 p.m. on Friday until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and from 9:00 p.m. on
Saturday until 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Overview of Project:
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) advises motorists that
work will resume next week on the US 31W (Dixie Highway) pavement replacement
project in Jefferson County. Contract crews will begin installing work zone
signs and other traffic control devices on Monday, May 8. Traffic will be
shifted by the end of the week between Bethany Lane and Valley Station Road to
allow for drainage pipe installation near Valley High School.
The project limits are from Stonegate Manor Drive and Greenwood
Road (mile points 6.6 to 11.7). The existing asphalt pavement is being removed
down to the original concrete pavement. An intermediate material is being
installed as a means to prevent reflective cracking between the concrete and
asphalt layers. Base and surface layers of asphalt will be paved to complete
the roadway.
In addition, most of the traffic signals along this section of
Dixie Highway will be upgraded by replacing poles, adding permitted/protected
left turn arrows and installing reflective back plates as well as pedestrian
push buttons. Existing sidewalk ramps will be upgraded to ADA compliance and
new ramps will be built where pedestrians previously stood on the shoulder of
the road.
The project is divided into four
sections of work:
·
Stonegate Manor Drive to Bethany Lane (mile points 6.6 to 7.7)
·
Bethany Lane to Valley Station Road (mile points 7.7 to 8.6)
·
Valley Station Road to West Pages Lane (mile points 8.6 to 10.5)
·
West Pages Lane to Greenwood Road (mile points 10.5 to 11.7)
Section
one between Stonegate Manor Drive and Bethany Lane has been completed. Roadway
construction was delayed last year while utilities were relocated. Work is
beginning next week in Section two and will proceed north. Crews must install
drainage pipe along the roadway before beginning the asphalt replacement. Next
they will remove the asphalt, install the intermediate layer and repave the
roadway in each section before moving to the next one.
During
daytime hours, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction on US
31W. Lane closures will occur on weeknights in the northbound direction from
9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. Closure times for the southbound direction are from
9:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. Weekend lane closures are permitted from 9:00 p.m.
until 10:00 a.m. the following morning on Fridays and Saturdays.
During
construction, motorists will not have access to a continuous center turn lane
along US 31W. This turning lane as well as the shoulders on both sides of the
road will be used to accommodate traffic shifts. Left turning lanes will be
provided at the signalized intersections.
Hall Contracting of Kentucky,
Inc. was awarded this contract in the amount of $14.5 million. Construction is
scheduled for completion by the end of 2017.
The date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement
weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Visit goky.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel
information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. You can also get traffic
information for the District 5 counties at facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5 and twitter.com/KYTCDistrict5 .
For additional
information, you can visit the KYTC District 5 website at http://transportation.ky.gov/district-5/
See the Courier Journal Article: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2017/05/05/major-work-dixie-highway-may-disrupt-traffic/101330310/
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The Louisville Bats
are hosting two types of Louisville Metro Government Nights.
Metro
Council Mondays: For this program, the Bats will host groups and
organizations doing the good of the community. This includes 12,000 total
tickets distributed for use on any of these Monday nights: June
19, July 17 and August 28. Examples include school fundraisers, charity
auctions, and several others.
Community
Nights: The Bats will host two community nights, providing tickets, hot dogs,
and soft drinks to non-profit groups who would not be able to afford a Bats
game under regular circumstances. These two nights include 4,000 guests for
each game on July 18 and August 2. Groups will need to contact the Bats
office directly to sign up for the program and each group member will get a
voucher for a ticket, hot dog and soft drink. Examples include mentoring
organizations, social service agencies, and many more.
To
request tickets for either part of the program, organizations should contact
Shelby Harding at sharding@batsbaseball.com. Please
include your Metro Council District, organization name, contact name, mailing
address, daytime phone and number of tickets requested. Email requests are
preferred, but if email is not available please call 614-4502.
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 WHEN: May 9 – June 20 Tuesdays, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Southwest
YMCA, 2800 Fordhaven Rd.
More
Freedom
From
Smoking Classes
are
available through Norton Healthcare, call Norton Healthcare Access Center at 502-629-1234 to register.
More
Freedom From Smoking Classes are available through Baptist Health or call 1-800-4-SOURCE to register!
For more info call 502-852-6318 or click here!
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 WHEN: Sunday, May 21, 12n-6pm
WHERE: Louisville Water Tower Park
www.keeplouisvilleweird.com/buylocalfair
More than 200 booths from a variety of
local businesses, artists and craftspeople, community organizations, and
farmers, as well as live music, Trend Appliances cooking competition, craft
cocktail competition, food and drink vendors, ValuMarket craft beer tent, Cox’s
Back Porch area for the grownups and a children’s area as well. Presented by the
Louisville Water Company, the event also gets major support from Amish Hills
Furniture and Louisville Metro Council. Admission to the Buy Local Fair is free
and parking is $5 per vehicle (or free for bicycle parking). Visit www.keeplouisvilleweird.com/buylocalfair for more info. #BuyLocalFair
 Develop Louisville staff has been engaging with the public
on an update to the Comprehensive Plan. Some methods of engagement have
included work groups, an Advisory Committee, outreach to local municipalities
with zoning authority and appearing before various bodies and organizations
including the Metro Council.
In the coming weeks, we will be holding six open house
forums to provide the public with an opportunity to view and to comment on the
work done so far.
The dates, times and locations for the forums are:
- Monday, May 22: Main Library (301 York St) at 4 pm
- Wednesday, May 24: Southwest Library (9725 Dixie Hwy) at
6 pm
- Tuesday, May 30: Bowman Field (2815 Taylorsville Rd) at 6
pm
- Saturday, June 3: The Table (1800 Portland Ave) at 9 am
- Monday, June 5: Fern Creek High School (9115 Fern Creek
Rd) at 6 pm
- Tuesday, June 6: The Jeffersonian (former Jeffersontown
Community Center) (10617 Taylorsville Rd)
at 6 pm
The forums will allow for additional input on the work
completed to date (draft goals and objectives) and will help us develop
policies. These meetings will be open house style with a short
introductory presentation. At these forums, we are especially interested in
engaging with citizens who have not yet participated in the Comprehensive Plan
update process. These forums will look similar to the Vision Louisville
forums that occurred a few years ago.
For more information on the Comprehensive Plan see: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/planning-design/comprehensive-plan
 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the fastest-growing
serious developmental disability in the United States. 1 in 68 children will be
diagnosed with ASD and over 3.5 million Americans live with ASD. With numbers
this high, ASD is likely to affect each and every one of us.
www.autismfriendlybusiness.com
Getting out into the community can be a struggle for those
on the spectrum and their families. The Autism
Friendly Business Initiative (AFBI) has been created to educate community
businesses about ASD and prepare them to provide compassionate customer
service. Many individuals with autism
and their families struggle to get out of the house. Grocery shopping, going out to eat, and
getting a hair cut can be challenging and when families do not feel supported
in their efforts, many choose to stay home.
Our hope is that when the community is more welcoming, individuals with
ASD and their families will be more willing to enjoy our great city and businesses
will access more customers. Participating businesses will receive a window
decal advertising their involvement with AFBI as well as advertisement on the
website and other social media outlets.
Parents and individuals with ASD will be able to identify participating
businesses within a particular industry (i.e., restaurants, entertainment).
FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) of
Louisville, University of Louisville Autism Center, Kentucky Autism Training
Center, and Meaningful Day Services together with a collaborative working group,
called the Autism Friendly Community, have created a 3-part plan to open the
community to individuals with autism and their families.
Level one is extremely easy. Agreeing to have at least 80%
of staff watch a 10-minute online video will add a business to the growing list
of Autism Friendly Businesses in our community. We don’t want businesses to
become therapists, but rather return to the simple rules of compassionate
customer service for all. After that, we
would like for the business to make this training part of their new employee training
packet so that all new employees have training in the provision of compassionate
customer service. An AFBI representative will follow up at least once a year to
see how things are going and offer additional support if needed.
For
businesses willing to go a bit further, level two asks that accommodations
or modifications be made available to individuals on the spectrum and their
families. AFBI will provide industry-specific recommendations that would
qualify for level 2 enrollments. For
example, AFBI will ask businesses to take specific pictures of their setting. These pictures
can be made available to parents to prepare their child for the expectations of
that location. A little bit of
preparation can make the world of difference for a family!
Level three
participation involves businesses reviewing their hiring structures to see if
any alterations could be made to get a more complete picture of the skill-set
of the candidate with ASD. Many individuals with ASD have extraordinary skills
that may not be obvious during a face-to-face interview. AFBI would like to help businesses ensure
that their hiring practices are allowing them to get the right person for the
job!
We believe
these three simple steps can transform Louisville into a compassionate, autism
friendly city. If you are part of a business interested in becoming autism
friendly, contact us today…it only takes 10 minutes to make a difference. For
more questions go to www.autismfriendlybusiness.com or call us at 502-596-1258.
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 In
addition to the systematic block by block Pothole Blitz Metro Public Works
performsbeginning in March each year, the Roads and Operations Division works
year- round patching potholes whenever they are reported to us. Public Works
encourages anyone who spots a pothole in Louisville to report it to MetroCall
as quickly as possible. There are several ways to do it:
Whichever method you choose, make sure to be as specific with
location information as you can. Don't assume someone else has reported it.
 What is Nar-anon? Nar-anon is a program that is for people who love someone with an addiction. If you spend your time trying to fix, manage, and control an addict and your results are sleepless nights, this program is for you! Nar-anon is for people affected by someone else's addiction! This is a place that you will see that you are not alone and that others understand what your life is like.
NAR-ANON, HOPE FOR FAMILIES
WHEN: Mondays at 8:00 pm
WHERE: MOSAIC UMC, 8008 St. Andrews Church Road, 40258
For more information, please contact Ed Small at 502.494.5030 or visit the Nar-Anon website.
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 Section
172 of the Kentucky Constitution requires the PVA to assess all property at
100% Fair Cash Value, as of the assessment date January 1st, unless
specifically exempted. Fair Cash Value, or fair market value, is defined as the
price a property would bring on the open market at a fair and voluntary sale
between a willing buyer and a willing seller, with neither party under duress,
given a reasonable amount of time on the market. The PVA does not set market
value. Our task is to analyze the market and insure that assessments of unsold
properties follow the market determined by buyers and sellers. In other words,
we are charged to assess all comparable properties to those that were sold in
the past 18 months.
The very first question you should ask is: would I sell my house
for what it’s assessed at? If your answer is NO because I think it’s worth
more, then you probably won’t want to go through the appeals processes. On the
other hand, if you think your property would not command that price, you
probably would want to contest the assessed value. Usually, homes that were
sold have been updated with all the latest amenities whereas yours might not
have been updated in years. The PVA is not allowed to go into your home so,
consequently, we do not know what’s inside but we still have to assess it
according to ones that have been sold. The only way you can get relief is to,
first of all, conference with the PVA. You can start the conferencing process
from your own home computer by going to the PVA website and clicking the
On-Line Conferencing process, filling out the conferencing form and uploading
your substantiating evidence. Sending us the substantiating is paramount to a
successful conference. Photographs of the interior showing the interior
condition, or a full blown appraisal by an independent appraiser, or comparable
valid sales are all acceptable evidence.
Once on our website, perform a property search of your property,
you can then access nearby sales by clicking on the Neighborhood Sales Search.
The Neighborhood Sales Search button is located below the picture of your
property.
Upload your evidence into the conferencing form or send it to our
office in hard documentation. Please make sure to include your conference
confirmation number on any documents you send by mail. Please put your email
address.
Anyone with a handicap or disability qualifies for a telephone
conference. Please contact 502-574-6224 for more information on how to
conference by telephone.
Again this year, the PVA has extended the Conferencing time by 10
days until 4:00 PM on May 15th, 2017 and have staff at 3 library locations on
Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM to assist you.
Jeffersontown – 10635 Watterson
Trail, 502-267-5713
Okolona - 7709 Preston Highway,
502-964-3515
Southwest Regional Library - 9725
Dixie Highway, 502-933-0029
Should you have questions,
please call the PVA office at: 502-574-6224.
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Feeding Stray Cats? Alley Cat Advocates can help get outdoor cats fixed and vaccinated at NO COST TO YOU! Call (502) 634-8777 today for your appointment!
Cats will be vaccinated, spayed or neutered, treated with flea and ear-mite medicine, given a great vet visit, ear-tipped (the universal symbol of a neutered cat) and returned. There are no more kittens. The number of cats gradually goes down. And annoying behaviors such as yowling, fighting, and spraying stop.
Call Alley Cat Advocates at (502) 634-8777 to make an appointment today!
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