Councilman Update!

Middletown Library, Oversight, and Veterans Day

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The past two weeks have brought some well-deserved change to both our community in District 19 and the city overall.  Let’s start with the most amazing news that so many of us have been waiting for…

THE MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY IS OPEN ONCE AGAIN!!!

Saturday November 2^nd at 10:00, I was there along with Mayor Chapman of Middletown, Middletown City Commissioner Ron Wolfe, and the Library Director, Lee Birchfield to celebrate the reopening of the Middletown library.  This was a huge victory for our community as this is one of the most used libraries in the entire system.  You can see the hours of operation here: http://www.lfpl.org/branches/middletown.htm.

Even with this joyous news, the Mayor took the opportunity to take another political swipe about raising taxes on homeowners.  I made sure all of my initial announcements included only positive messages including ones about the administration but he just couldn’t help himself and I wanted to express my continued frustration with the Mayor’s singular focus on raising taxes on homeowners and continued threats to this community’s library.  Further, to date, the Administration has not initiated one conversation with myself or Mayor Chapman of Middletown to examine long-term solutions.  Mayor Chapman and I are working with others to secure a permanent solution and we hope to incorporate that into the budget this next year.  You should all know that we, my Metro Council colleagues and others are working diligently to ensure we have a long-term, sustainable solution for our beloved branch library.

Metro Council on Thursday unanimously (there was one ‘present’ vote) passed my oversight bill for Louisville Forward in a great step forward for transparency and accountability.  I created this ordinance for 2 reasons.  The first was the existing precedent at the state level related to oversight of economic development.  The economic development agency of the state provides a quarterly report to the applicable state legislative oversight committee as it is critical to ensure continued dialogue about these efforts.  We are following this example.  The second reason I created this was the recent missteps with the sales of surplus property.  In one instance, a mistake caused us to pay $150,000 in taxpayer dollars to avoid a lawsuit and in another instance, the Administration sold a property to a developer who, without spending any significant money on the property, flipped it for a profit.  Essentially the Administration sold it to them at a below market rate and didn’t legally require them to do what they said they would do so they just flipped it and sold it.  We can’t let that kind of mistake ever happen again.  I would like to thank my colleagues for supporting this effort, so we have more consistent public oversight of our economic development activities in Louisville.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone that this Monday is Veterans Day.  Earning the title ‘Marine’ and serving in the Corps was, and will continue to be, one of the greatest experiences of my life.  I know there are many, many veterans in District 19 and across this great city.  I would like to thank each and every one of them for their sacrifice in defense of our country and freedoms.  I would also like to prayerfully ask for God’s protection over the men and women who are in uniform today.  The Mayor, to his credit, is acknowledging all Metro Council employees who have served on Monday and will join them in the Veterans Day parade.  I plan on joining him for that event and I did want to thank him for his support of Veterans. 

I hope you are all having a great start to November (in true Kentucky fashion, it seems we have just skipped Fall and jumped right into Winter) and please let me know if there is anything, we can do for you.

Humbly Yours,

Anthony Piagentini

Public Meetings/Notices

Click the links below to view the upcoming Public Meetings Notices:

• Neigh Letter (002).pdf

• 19-CUP-0134_BOZA_Notice.pdf

• 19-CUP-0133_BOZA_Notice.pdf

• 19-ZONE-0057_LDT Notice_11.14.19.pdf

How to Call Your Police

LIHEAP Subsidy Component Begins Nov. 4

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that helps low income residents of Jefferson County with their utility bills begins on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019.

LIHEAP is a federally funded, income-based program that provides financial help to low-income households in meeting the costs of heating their home. The LIHEAP Subsidy Component is a one-time assistance benefit, which is paid directly to the heating vendor. The LIHEAP Subsidy Component begins Monday, Nov. 4, and will operate through Dec. 13, 2019.

Residents wishing to apply must schedule an appointment utilizing the automated appointment system. The appointment system is currently open and is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Appointments can be scheduled by phone by calling (502) 991-8391 or online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.

Applicants must be Louisville Metro/Jefferson County residents with a household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For the Subsidy Component of LIHEAP, residents can apply regardless of the status of their utility bills. Applicants must also provide the following documentation.

• Proof of all household income for the preceding month (Food Stamp award letter, Social Security Award letter, pay stubs, etc. or proof of $0 income. Note: Zero Income forms are available at the Office of Resilience and Community Services office at 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Suite 201 or by clicking here.
• Proof of Social Security number for each member of the household.
• Most current heating bill; or statement from your landlord if heating expenses are included in your rent; or statement from your utility company if you participate in a pre-pay electric program. Please bring the account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric.

LIHEAP applications will be completed at the time of the appointment at one of the six locations listed below. 

• Northwest Neighborhood Place/Academy at Shawnee, 4018 W Market St., 40212
• South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 40215
• Neighborhood Place Ujima/Duvalle Education Center, 3610 Bohne Ave., 40211
• Neighborhood Place/Bridges of Hope, 1411 Algonquin Pkwy., 40210
• Newburg Community Center/East, 4810 Exeter Ave, 40218
• Southwest Government Center/Dixie Highway location. 7219 Dixie Highway, 40258

Individuals who are unable to apply for this program in person may send a representative on their behalf with a note including the applicant’s signature and phone number. Residents who are homebound and who are unable to send a representative may call (502) 780-7937.

Callers who require more information can contact Metro311 by simply dialing 311 or (502) 574-5000, email metro.311@louisvilleky.gov, visit the website’s On Line Customer Service at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro311 tweet @LouMetro311, or download the free Mobile 311 app from the website. Residents can also call Metro United Way’s 2-1-1 help referral service.

LIHEAP is made possible by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is a pass through grant from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which contracts with Community Action Agencies across the state. Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS) serves as the administering agency of the Louisville Metro Community Action Agency. For more information about RCS, visit our website: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/community-services  or call 574-1157 or Community Action Kentucky at (800) 456-3452.

Light Up Middletown & Holiday Bazaar

New Kentucky Drivers License Info

Find the Latest Crime & Safety Info from LMPD

Crime Trends from Louisville Metro Police  Click here and view our interactive crime mapping tool. Save it in your favorites, it's updated daily. Forward this email to your friends and family!  Or use the crime mapping iPhone app: http://www.crimemapping.com/map/agency/211 If you see crime occurring, please contact the Louisville Metro Police Department. Call 911 for emergencies. Call 502-574-7111 for non-emergency related help or to find a towed vehicle. Call 574-LMPD to report crime tips.

Join a Board or Commission

If you are interested in volunteering for one of Louisville Metro Government's Boards and Commissions, now is the time to start. By being a part of a board or commission, you will offer your time and your talents to improve the quality of life in our community.

There are approximately 100 boards and commissions with many areas of interest, including business and economic development, land planning, parks and recreation, public health and public safety.

To learn more about applications, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/mayor-greg-fischer/interested-serving-board-or-commission