02/18/2020

Newburg Library

On the third Tuesday of each month, a Community Meeting is held to give residents an opportunity to be informed, discuss ideas and share. Be part of the change we want to see for our community. Join us at 6:00PM when we meet with LMPD, and 6:30PM to share with Councilwoman Dr. Barbara Shanklin.

Louisville Metro Police Department 6th Division Questions? Contact Us

Concerned about this year's Metro Budget?  Contact Your State Legislators!

The Kentucky General Assembly is now back in session.  Among the items on the agenda are local government revenue options.

Louisville Metro and other city and county governments across the state face dramatically rising pension costs, but the ability to raise revenue to meet them is severely limited by state law. Additionally, some of the options the state allows for other communities, including a restaurant tax, are currently prohibited in Louisville.

Rising costs without new revenue have already led to reduced Metro services, including fewer police officers, firefighters, library services, and many more.  Pension costs will continue to rise in the coming years, and a bipartisan group of Louisville’s leaders (and local governments across the state) have been asking Frankfort for help. 

We need Louisville citizens to get involved in this effort! Please contact your state legislators and ask them to support efforts for additional local government revenue options.  Find your state senator and representative at this link, and contact them by phone or email to ask them to work with local officials to find a solution that will pay the bills without crippling cuts in Metro services.

Having issues with high grass, illegal parking, street repairs, or other Code Enforcement concerns in the community?  Contact 311!

Metro311 Service Request Information

• Submit a Service Request in the new system.
• Only service requests for the past 30 days will be accessible in the new system.  If you need information on an older request, please call Metro 311 for status.
• Anything submitted in the old reporting system (prior to June 19, 2019) will not show in the new system.  It is still being processed however. Please call Metro311 for status.
• To receive email notifications of the status of your service request you must have an account and you must have included your email address when you created your account. You can create a new account and report a new issue with Metro 311 by following this link.
• Not all issues you put a service request in for require you to login. Some issues may be submitted anonymously, such as reporting a pothole and property maintenance cases, for instance. But having an account will allow you to track the progress and status of the request.
• The outlined or highlighted area on the map indicates the area which is serviced by Louisville Metro Government.
• If you do not see a category which corresponds to your issue, please call Metro 311 at 311. 

Is your neighborhood street facing speeding problems?  Do you and your neighbors desire to have speed humps installed?  Councilwoman Shanklin and the District 2 office want to help!

Vehicles speeding through neighborhood streets is an all too common problem facing many residents of the Louisville Metro area, resulting in dangerous conditions that affect adults and children alike.  District 2 is not immune to this issue, and your Council office would like to help.  Already this year three streets in the Newburg area (Ilex, Shasta, and Kilmer) have been outfitted with brand new speed humps, entirely paid for by Councilwoman Shanklin and her District 2 office. 

Still, the Councilwoman is not finished attempting to mitigate the speeding issues often negatively affecting D-2 neighborhoods.  If you and your neighbors have noticed a high number of speeders on your street and would like to be considered for speed hump installation, please contact the District 2 Council office at (502) 574-1102 or via email at either Barbara.Shanklin@louisvilleky.gov or Caleb.Howard@louisvilleky.gov.  Assuming that your street is eligible (must be Metro owned/must be long enough to support speed humps/etc.), after speaking with a representative from our office you will be asked to collect signatures (with individual addresses) from all of your neighbors that live on the street that is requesting the installation of speed humps.  At least 70% of all of the residents currently living on the street requesting speed humps must provide their signature/address in support in order for the street to be considered by Public Works.  Upon completion of this signature page, the original document must be given to Councilwoman Shanklin or Legislative Assistant Caleb Howard personally, or sent to our office at City Hall (601 W. Jefferson St., First Floor, 40202; ATTN: Caleb Howard).  As soon as the signature document is received, LA Howard will deliver it to Public Works, and that department will survey the street to determine whether or not speed humps will be appropriate to install--assuming Public Works signs off on the request, Councilwoman Shanklin will make the final determination with regards to moving forward with the installation or not.

In addition to the speed humps already constructed, Brenda Drive, Cedrus Circle, and Oakdale Lane have recently submitted their signature paperwork and are currently being considered by Public Works.

Report Street Light Outages to LG&E

If you see a streetlight out in your neighborhood (or anywhere in Louisville), please note the address and report it to LG&E for repair. Click here to fill out the online form to report broken or malfunctioning streetlights. We always recommend adding your contact information to the request, so a technician who has questions can contact you. LG&E makes repairs during the day. Make sure you follow up if the streetlight hasn’t been repaired within seven (7) days.

LMPD reminder:  Please secure your property!

A reminder to lock your vehicle, and never leave valuables in plain sight. This includes any and all keys, key fobs and firearms. 

Police report that some drivers are making it easy for thieves by leaving their vehicle running. Please secure your property. 

LMPD suggests making a 9 p.m. routine, as seen below.

• Remove valuables from your vehicle.
• Lock your car.
• Secure your weapons.
• Close your garage.
• Lock your doors and windows. 

Remember to report any suspicious behavior to LMPD’s non-emergency line at 574-7111. To speak to a call taker, press 5.

Metro Emergency Repair Program

Eligibility criteria:

•    Must be owner occupied for at least one year.
•    Not available on rental property.
•    Must meet income guidelines (see intake staff).
•    May receive assistance once in a five year period.
•    Louisville-Jefferson County only.

Types of repairs:

• Furnace repair or replacement (October-April only).
• A/C unit- repair or replacement (Requires medical statement, available May-Sept. only).
• Electrical repairs/upgrades.
• Water line repairs/replacement.
• Sewer line repairs/replacement.
• Water heater repair/replacement (gas or electric).   
• Gas line leaks.

For further information contact Jackie Wilson-Rudy at 574-5850 or Jacqueline.Wilson-Rudy@louisvilleky.gov.

Age Friendly Louisville Work-groups Scheduled This Month- No More Overlapping Dates!

We welcome anyone who is interested in participating in the planning and implementation process of Louisville's age-friendly city plan. Connect with us by joining our email list and attending a one of the upcoming domain workshops.

Domain: Social Participation, Respect & Inclusion:  Tuesday, February 11; 2:00pm - 4:00pm @ Metro United Way.

Domain: Mobility & Access:  Wednesday, February 12; 2:00pm - 3:30pm.

Visit www.agefriendlylou.com to learn more!

Additional Opportunities this month:

PROGRAM BY PHONE: HIRING IN-HOME CARE: HOW TO CHOOSE WHO TO BRING INTO YOUR HOME

You may realize you need assistance, but the decision to bring a home care worker into your home is stressful because it involves many important considerations. Join us as we learn from an expert what questions to ask as you interview prospective providers. The Alzheimer’s Association will present this program on Tuesday, February 11th from 1pm - 2pm EST (12pm - 1pm CST).  To register for this program go to http://alzphoneprograms.org.  If no internet access, please call 800-272-3900 to register. 

WEBINAR: UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA

Alzheimer’s is not normal aging. It’s a disease of the brain that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Join us to learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, Alzheimer’s disease stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available to address some symptoms and Alzheimer’s Association resources. This webinar will be held on Thursday, February 20th from 11am - 12pm EST/10am -11am CST or 1pm -2pm EST/12pm - 1pm CST. Registration is required by visiting ALZWebinars.org.

WEBINAR:  CAREGIVER SOS: RESOURCES FOR CAREGIVERS

What do you do as a caregiver when you feel like you are just treading water? There are resources available that are tailor-made to your situation, but you must know about them.  This thirty-minute webinar will let you know some of the best ways you can get help quickly. This webinar will be held on Tuesday, February 25th 12pm - 12:30pm EST/11am - 11:30am CST and 2pm - 2:30pm EST/1pm - 1:30pm CST. Registration is required by visiting ALZWebinars.org.

TRIAD:

Monthly Meeting:  Tuesday, February 11; 11:30am - 1:00pm.  Hosted by: Active Day & Active Homecare.  MUSCL Senior Wellness Center (1016 E. Burnett Ave, Louisville, 40217).  Call OADC at 502-574-5092 for more information.

Family Caregiving Policies and Innovations Webinar:  Thursday, February 20; 2:00pm - 3:00pm.

Family caregivers provide an estimated $470 billion per year in unpaid care, and are a critical component for states seeking to support older adults and individuals with complex needs staying in their homes and communities.

The RAISE Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center will host a webinar to discuss state and federal policies and initiatives to support family caregivers. The webinar will provide an overview of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, and will feature state leaders from Tennessee and Washington state who will share their policies and innovations to support family caregivers. 

Speakers:

• Wendy Fox-Grage (moderator), Project Director, RAISE Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center, National Academy for State Health Policy  
• Rani Snyder, Vice President, Program, The John A. Hartford Foundation 
• Greg Link, Director, Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services, Administration for Community Living
• Bea Rector, Director, Home and Community Services Division, Aging and Long Term Support Administration, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services 
• Stephanie Gibbs, Director, System Transformation and Innovation, Long-Term Services and Supports, Division of TennCare

Register in advance (required)

Crisis Component of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The program that helps prevent low income residents of Jefferson County from being disconnected from utility services has begun.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is administered by the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services. The LIHEAP Crisis Component will run until March 31, or until available funds have been expended, whichever comes first.

This year’s Crisis Program will allow residents receiving a current utility bill with a past due amount and residents receiving a disconnect notice to apply for assistance.

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

Applicants must be a resident of Jefferson County with a household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (e.g. for a household of four, the gross monthly income cannot exceed $2,790.00). 

For more eligibility requirements and information, please click here.

Apply for a 30% Senior Discount on Sewer Services

If you'd like to apply for a 30% Senior Citizen Discount of the amount billed for sanitary sewer service and the EPA Consent Decree Surcharge, please print, complete and return the form.  You must be able to provide documentation verifying:

• you are the legal title/leaseholder/renter of the property
• you are 65 years of age or older
• your household gross income is $35,000 or less per year.

Click HERE for the form.

Reminder about Homestead Exemption, which can help seniors with property taxes

The Homestead Exemption is basically a senior discount on property taxes. If you are 65 years or older, or if you will turn 65 in 2020, and you own and occupy your primary residence (as of 1/1/2020), then you qualify to exempt the first $39,300 of your home value from property taxes.  In the Urban Services District, this equals $527 cash in your pocket annually – not an insignificant sum – and, once approved, you are not required to reapply unless you move. 

In some states, the Homestead Exemption is automatic, but in Kentucky, you need to apply.  Complete this one-page form and mail it, along with a copy of your driver’s license (or ID), to the PVA. You’ll get a letter back that looks like this. You can’t apply online, you'll be notified by a postcard, and many people are unaware of their rights, including seniors who have lost a spouse or live alone on a fixed income.

Homeowners who are veterans of the United States Armed Forces and have a service connected disability, or civilians who have been determined to be totally and permanently disabled under the rules of the Social Security Administration or the Kentucky Retirement Systems, may also qualify for a homestead exemption. More information is here. 

If you know a homesteader who may qualify, please let them know! 

Free Radon Test Kit

The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is offering free radon test kits while supplies lasts. You can request a kit by calling 502-574-6650.

Radon is a gas that you cannot smell, taste or see. It forms naturally when uranium, radium and thorium break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes in through cracks and gaps in homes and other buildings. Radon can cause lung cancer through prolonged exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, causing between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year.

The entire state of Kentucky is at high risk for radon exposure with about 40 percent of homes estimated to have unsafe levels. The only way to know if radon exists at dangerous levels in your home is to test for it.

City's HUD Grant applications being accepted, including CDBG, ESG and HOPWA grants

Louisville Metro Government (LMG) is accepting applications from local non-profit organizations for programs or activities seeking funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants for LMG fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021).

These grants are administered locally by the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS). Grant activities are guided by a five-year Consolidated Plan as well as an annual Action Plan, both available online.

Additionally for FY21, RCS seeks to implement recommendations from the 2019 University of Louisville Study: Solving Street Homelessness in Louisville, KY: Improving the Climate of Care for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness.

HUD-Funded Grants:

1. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG),
2. Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and
3. Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).

RCS will accept applications for FY21 based on service categories, including Currently Homeless Services & Outreach, Day Shelter, Domestic Violence Services, Homelessness Prevention, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, Overnight Shelter, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Rapid Rehousing and Relocation. For more information, click here. 

Know the signs of human trafficking - you could save a life

Community members have the highest rate of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and the more folks who know the signs, so they can detect and report human trafficking, will help those in our Districts who need our assistance.

Indicators of Human Trafficking (HT)  Recognizing key indicators of HT is the first step in identifying victims and can help SAVE A LIFE.  Here are some common indicators to help recognize HT.  

• Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?
• Has a child stopped attending school?
• Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
• Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?
• Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse”
• Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?
• Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
• Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?
• Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, i.e., where they go or who they talk to?
• Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
• Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
• Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation:
• Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live: Are there unreasonable security measures?
• Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and; the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.

To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 or BeFree. Hint: Keep this hotline number in your cell phone. 

Food Pantry open in District 2

Open every 2^nd Monday of the month -- 10am - 12pm

---------------------------------------------

• Serving households in the 40213, 40218 & 40219 Zip Codes Only
• First Come, First Served Basis
• Picture ID & proof of residency required!

Sponsored By: 

Peace Presbyterian Church

4210 East Indian Trail

Louisville, KY  40213

Upcoming Events at Newburg Library!

Kentucky Kingdom Now Hiring!

Kentucky Kingdom has begun hiring for 1,400 seasonal positions, including lifeguards, ride operators and water park technicians with some ability in plumbing. Pay rates begin “above the minimum wage”. Some jobs are available for workers as young as 14. The park needs seasonal help in more than 20 departments, including kitchen staff, ride technicians, landscaping, and warehousing.

Job applicants can get more information on the parks’ official website.

Free Junk Drop-Off

at 636 Meriwether Avenue

The Louisville Metro Waste Reduction Center (at 636 Meriwether Avenue) provides a means for all Louisville/Jefferson County residents to properly dispose of tires and household bulk waste including metals, appliances, electronics, tree limbs and stumps up to three feet in diameter, unbagged yard waste, construction debris and furniture. *Up to three household junk items may be dropped off at no charge per day. If there are more than three items a fee will be charged according. For additional information call 574-3570.

Hours of Operation: Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5 :00p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Report a Litterer!

Get directly involved in making Louisville a more litter-free community through the Report-A-Litterer program aimed at motorists who throw fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts, soda bottles, or any type of litter out of their car window. 

Click Here to Report!

LouieConnect

Louisville non-profits have launched a new website to help connect people in need of food, shelter, and more.  Metro United Way and the Family Scholar House partnered to create LouieConnect, modeling it on a similar site created in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  When someone uses LouieConnect, the web-based app asks for basic information and then lists applicable resources nearby — from food pantries to shelters to career centers to financial literacy programs.

***Important Metro Services Phone Numbers***

• Air Pollution: (502) 574-6000
• Animal Services: (502) 363-6609 or (502) 361-1318
• Brightside: (502) 574-2613
• Community Services & Revitalization: (502) 574-4377
• Congressman John Yarmuth: (502) 582-5129
• IPL (Code Enforcement): (502) 574-3321
• Legal Aid Society: (502) 584-1254
• LG&E Business: (502) 627-3313 or (800)- 331-7370
• LG&E Residential: (502) 589-1444 or (800) 331-7370
• LMPD 6th Division: (502) 574-2187
• LMPD Anonymous Tipline: (502) 574-LMPD (5673)
• LMPD: (Non Emergency): (502) 574-7111 or (502) 574-2111
• Louisville Forward/Economic Development: (502) 574-4140
• Master Commissioner Jefferson Circuit Court (Foreclosure Sales): (502) 753-       4888
• Mayor Greg Fischer: (502) 574-2003
• Metro311: 311 or (502) 574-5000
• Metro Parks: (502) 456-8100
• Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD): (502) 540-6000
• Metro Safe: (502) 572-3460 or (502) 574-7111
• PARC: (502) 569-6222
• Planning & Design Services: (502) 574-6230
• Property Valuation Administrator (PVA): (502) 574-4016
• Public Works: (502) 574-5810
• Solid Waste Management (SWMS): (502) 574-3571
• TARC: (502) 585-1234
• Vacant & Public Property Administration: (502) 574-4016
• Your State Representative or State Senator: http://www.lrc.ky.gov