Residential garbage, recycling and yard waste collection within the Louisville Metro Urban Services District (former Louisville city limits) will be collected one hour earlier than usual for the balance of this week due to extreme weather conditions.

With daily high temperatures flirting with the 100-degree mark this week, waste collection will begin at 5 a.m. through the rest of the week. That is one hour earlier than the usual 6 a.m. start. This measure will lower the risk of heat related illness for Solid Waste Division workers by reducing exposure to rising temperatures.

Residents should place waste out for collection anytime between 4 p.m. on the day preceding collection and 5 a.m. on collection day. 

Early Sunday morning (between 12:30 and 3:30 am) there were three robberies in LMPD’s Fifth Division, one in the Highlands and two in District 9 (one on North Hite and one on Frankfort Avenue). The cases appear to be related and LMPD is actively working them.  A WLKY story is here: http://www.wlky.com/article/masked-men-rob-victims-in-crescent-hill-highlands-police-say/10324490.  

Here are some safety tips when walking, especially at night:

• Always be aware of your surroundings, and the people who are around you.
• Avoid walking alone; either walk with someone, or walk in areas where others are near.
• Stay in well lighted areas, away from alleys, bushes, and doorways.
• Avoid shortcuts through alleys, parks, vacant lots, or other deserted places.
• Walk in the middle of the sidewalk facing traffic.
• If you are walking to your car in a parking lot, and anything makes you feel uncomfortable, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS, go back in the store. Get someone to walk with you to your car.
• If you have a cell phone, carry it with you when walking or driving and be prepared to use it to call for help. Know what number to call (911 for emergencies) and be prepared to give your exact location to the emergency operator.

To learn more about crime in D9, sign up for LMPD Fifth Division crime notices here, or contact us with your name and email address at Bill Hollander and we can get you signed up.   Fighting crime takes all of us – and your neighbors and LMPD need your help. 

Metro Public Works (MPW) is working on the following paving projects in D9.

• Thompson Avenue from Mellwood Avenue to dead end
• Bertie Avenue (at Thompson) from dead end to dead end
• N Spring Street from Mellwood Avenue to Story Avenue
• Mayfair Lane from 423 Mayfair to Basswood Lane
• Basswood Lane from Lightfoot Road to Swing Lane
• Mockingbird Lane from Jarvis Lane to Mockingbird Valley Road
•  Crabtree Drive end to end

Paving in District 9 is being done based on rated road conditions, with the lowest rated roads receiving priority.

If your street has potholes needing repair, report them to MetroCall at 574-5000, https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metrocall-311, download the 311 app, live chat, or call my office. 

Photo: Courier-Journal

The Metro Council’s Public Works, Parks, Sustainability and Transportation Committee will host a special committee meeting on Tuesday, July 25th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 601 W. Jefferson Street.

The special committee meeting will allow the public the chance to voice their opinion on the proposed public tree ordinance, which affects trees on public lands and in public rights of way.

Individuals wishing to speak will sign up with the Clerk’s Office one hour prior to the start of the meeting on the 3rd floor of City Hall. Sign-up sheets will be at the Third Floor Lobby desk.  Speakers are called in order of signup and have up to five minutes to make comments.  No signups will be taken by phone or online.

All Metro Council Committee meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 25 and on UVERSE Channel 99.You can watch the meetings online by going to the Metro Council home page at http://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/metro-council-clerk and click the “Watch Meetings Online” button.

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. 

Clifton resident Josh Poe was the recipient of a national award this month when an interactive map that Louisville Forward introduced in February, examining the lasting impact of redlining, was selected by Harvard University as its Map of the Month. 

“Redlining Louisville: The History of Race, Class and Real Estate” is the first selection by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in its effort to recognize best-in-class data visualizations created by all units of government as well as nonprofit organizations. 

Louisville’s map was created by Clifton and D9 resident Josh Poe, a Louisville urban planner and project manager at YouthBuild, as part of an effort to draw attention to present-day redlining tactics as well as the negative effects of past redlining. Redlining, which dates back to 1933, is a form of discrimination in which lending agencies deny financial services to people living in certain neighborhoods or businesses charge higher rates for services. Poe began looking into redlining in Louisville as an independent research project about five years ago. 

More information about the award is here: https://insiderlouisville.com/metro/redlining-louisville-map-wins-harvard-university-honor/. Metro's website on the project is here: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/redevelopment-strategies/redlining-community-dialogue.

Congratulations, Josh!

The Office of Planning Permitting and Design-Construction Review has received a demolition permit application for 4 Caledonia Avenue, case number WR1029182.

The above referenced property is listed or eligible for listing in The National Register of Historic Places.

Per LMCO (150.110), the requested demolition permit can be issued on the following date: 8/13/17

For additional information regarding this application visit the website: http://louisvilleky.gov/government/construction-review  or contact Mike Beard, Plan Review Supervisor at 574-3321 or Cynthia Johnson, Metro Historic Preservation Officer at 574-2868.

St. Joseph Children’s Home, 2823 Frankfort Avenue, will host the 168th Annual St. Joe’s Picnic on Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12. VIP tickets are still available by calling 893-0241; VIP tickets include air-conditioned tent, tables, chicken dinner buffet, live music, bar service and restrooms.

Sign up to volunteer during the event. This is a great opportunity for youth to gain service hours. Click here to sign up online.

St. Joseph Children’s Home is partnering up with St. Patrick’s Parish to collect cakes for the famous Cake Booth. The Cake Booth is one of the largest grossing gaming booths at St. Joe’s Picnic. Click here to purchase a cake from local Louisville bakeries and St. Joe’s will pick it up for you.

Canine Influenza or “Dog Flu” is a highly contagious virus that can affect dogs and cats of any breed, age, sex or health status. Almost ALL dogs exposed to the virus will become infected and the majority of dogs (80% of infected dogs) will develop flu symptoms. Most dogs recover within 2-3 weeks.                      

TRANSMISSION:
The virus travels from infected dogs to non-infected dogs and cats through:

• Direct contact
• Coughing, barking and sneezing
• Contaminated objects: clothing, surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes
• People moving between infected and non-infected animals
• Dogs that socialize with other dogs are at greater risk (dog parks, grooming facilities, etc.)

PREVENTION:

• Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s health and if the canine influenza vaccine is right for your dog. The vaccine is a two-part series given two weeks apart.
• At this time there is no vaccine for cats.
• Avoid exposing your dog or cat to obviously sick dogs.
• Avoid taking your dog to areas where dogs gather (dog parks, grooming facilities, boarding kennels, etc.).
• If your dog or cat is showing signs of illness, isolate it from other animals and seek veterinary care.
• Wash your hands after handling any animal.
• Clean all surfaces with disinfectants.
• Do not share toys between healthy and obviously sick animals.

TREATMENT:  It is always best to consult a veterinarian if you believe your pet may be ill