Louisville Metro Government sent this bulletin at 01/15/2021 04:13 PM EST
COUNCILWOMAN DR. BARBARA SHANKLIN
(502) 574-1102 / 601 West Jefferson Street City Hall, 1st Floor Louisville, KY 40202
Dr. Barbara Shanklin District 2 Councilwoman 601 West Jefferson Street City Hall, 1st Floor Louisville, KY 40202 (502) 574-1102 Barbara.Shanklin@louisvilleky.gov
Caleb Howard Legislative Assistant (502) 574-2787 Caleb.Howard@louisvilleky.gov
Newburg Library
***January Meeting Cancelled Due to COVID-19 pandemic***
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 6:00PMwhen we meet with LMPD, and 6:30PM to share with Councilwoman Dr. Barbara Shanklin.
Louisville Metro Police Department 6th Division Questions? Contact Us
STAY CONNECTED:
CLICK HERE OR CALL 574-LMPD (5673) TO SUBMIT A CRIME TIP
Councilwoman Shanklin and the District 2 Office would like to wish you a joyful and reflective Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
Official Team Kentucky sources for information concerning COVID-19
COVID-19 Hotline (800) 722-5725
The COVID-19 hotline is a service operated by the healthcare professionals at the KY Poison Control Center who can provide advice and answer questions. Please be patient as we are handling a high volume of calls and want to give everyone the time they deserve. For general information, please review the website prior to calling the hotline. Guidance is being added as it becomes available.
Click here for to visit the official Team Kentucky source for information concerning COVID-19 (updated daily).
For general inquires, email KYcovid19@ky.gov. Please be patient as we handle a high volume of emails.
COVID-19: Louisville Information
Louisville Metro has a website with updated information about COVID-19, including information from Mayor Greg Fischer’s briefings about City services. You can access it here.
*PCR is test for COVID, Serology is antibodies test
**Based on a 7-day rolling average; Switched on 10/19/2020 to electronic laboratory reports as the sole source of data for the positivity rate. Learn more about how KDPH determines the Statewide Positivity Rate. Note: Data includes cases of COVID-19 reported to KDPH.
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 will allow us to worship together, reopen schools, and return to work in person. Choosing to be vaccinated helps you and your loved ones stay safe. It helps our community’s most vulnerable members to be protected against this pandemic and the social isolation that comes along with it.
COVID-19 is still spreading in our city. We are experiencing a record number of cases, and, unfortunately, deaths. Until most of us can be vaccinated, wearing a mask and keeping our distance and limiting where we go is still essential to protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities. Even as we celebrate the development of safe and effective vaccines, these safety measures - including staying home when you may be sick - remain crucial parts of our effort to eliminate this pandemic.
Please visit this link for answers to many frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and how soon (and where) you will be able to get your vaccination.
6,000 vaccinated in two weeks at LouVax site, 30,000 across Louisville to date in January
During its opening week at the LouVax site at Broadbent Arena, the health department vaccinated 2,000 individuals in tier 1A.
On Friday, the health department reported that it administered 4,000 vaccinations of medical first responders and healthcare workers, bringing its total count of vaccines administered in two weeks to 6,000.
"Across the Metro area we are meeting the state standard of administering 90 percent of the vaccine doses within seven days of their arrival," Dr. Hartlage said. "As quickly as it's coming in, we are pushing it back out, giving it to our community and getting as many people vaccinated as we can."
Citywide more than 30,000 total doses of the vaccine have been given out either at our LouVax site and our healthcare system community partners, Norton Healthcare, UofL Health and Baptist Health.
To view instructions for healthcare workers, practices and organizations interested in receiving the vaccine CLICK HERE.
Who is next and how to sign up?
On Monday, January 18, we will begin vaccinating people in tier 1B. That group includes:
Non-medical first responders (police officers, firefighters)
Corrections workers
K-12 school personnel (educators)
Individuals age 70 and over
If you are age 70 and over, click HERE to request an appointment.
If you are a non-medical first responder, corrections worker, or work in private or public K-12 school systems, you do not need to take any further action. We are working with your employers to schedule your appointments.
The health department states that less than 10,000 appointments are opening next week. Additional slots will become available as the state allocates more doses of the vaccine.
Metro Health anticipates that it will take three months to vaccinate individuals in tier 1B. Please be patient follow the health department on Facebook, Twitter, check our website for updates on appointment openings and to subscribe to COVID-19 health alerts via email.
To find information on the COVID vaccine, the vaccination process, and how to request an appointment, CLICK HERE.
Schools – All public and private schools (K -12) to cease in-person instruction:
Middle and high schools will remain in remote or virtual instruction until at least Jan. 4, 2021.
Elementary schools may reopen for in-person instruction Dec. 7 if their county is not in the red zone and the school follows all Healthy at School guidance.
GUIDANCE
KYCOVID19.KY.GOV This website is Kentucky's central resource for all COVID-19 information and guidance. The COVID-19 Hotline – (800) 722-5725 – is a service operated by the health care professionals at the KY Poison Control Center who can provide advice and answer questions. For general inquiries, please send an email to KyCovid19@ky.gov. KyCovid19.ky.gov also includes weekly White House Coronavirus Task Force reports for Kentucky.
RED ZONE RECOMMENDATIONS See red zone counties here. See red zone county recommendations here. See school guidance based on color-coded zone here.
TESTING The Governor said Kentuckians can find more than 350 testing locations here.
To register for surge testing in Louisville (Kentucky Exposition Center) or Lexington (Keeneland Racecourse), visit DoINeedACOVID19Test.com. Both locations are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ASSISTANCE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE Go to KCC.ky.gov for more information and to file a claim. You can also call 1-502-875-0442 (File a Claim) or 1-877-369-5984 (Request a Payment). See other UI contact information (email and phone numbers) here.
KYNECT Website available in: Arabic (عربى); Bosnian (Bosanski); Chinese (中文); English (English); French (Français); Russian (русский); Somali (Somali); Spanish (Español); Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
Visit kynect.ky.gov to apply for health insurance; benefit programs covering food assistance (SNAP), child care assistance, financial aid for children and caregivers (KTAP) and more; and to learn more about local help with food, transportation, housing, employment, finances, physical and mental health.
RESTAURANT AND BAR RELIEF To help offset the financial impact on restaurants and bars, the Governor is dedicating $40 million in CARES Act funding to provide qualifying restaurants and bars $10,000 in relief for various expenses, with a maximum award of $20,000 per business entity. Businesses with at least 50% of their sales via drive-through (during a normal year) will not be eligible. To focus on locally owned businesses, publicly traded companies are not eligible to apply.
Applications are scheduled to open Nov. 30 and close Dec. 18. Businesses will be required to remain in compliance with all public health orders. Applications will be processed in the order they are received, and funds will be awarded until they are exhausted.
Reimbursable expenses include items like: rent, employee salaries, health insurance costs, inventory and personal protective equipment. To check eligibility, or to apply, visit teamkyfbrf.ky.gov.
UTILITY RELIEF FUND
The Kentucky Public Service Commission ended its moratorium on disconnections for nonpayment for the utilities it regulates on Oct. 20. To ensure there were protections afterwards, the Governor signed an executive order that ended the statewide moratorium on disconnections for nonpayment on Nov. 6, but takes additional steps to help Kentuckians.
The executive order designates $15 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for the Healthy at Home Utility Relief Fund. Eligible households can receive a one-time $500 benefit towards their water and or wastewater bills and $400 towards their natural gas or utility bills. Households who have an income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Line and have been economically impacted due to COVID-19 can apply.
As of Dec. 1, the Governor said there is about $11 million remaining in the fund.
Interested households should contact their local Community Action Outreach Office on how to apply. To locate a local office, call 800-456-3452.
The order will also require utilities to create a payment plan for residential customers that runs no less than six months. It will continue to waive late fees on utility bills for residential customers through Dec. 31, 2020.
VACCINE UPDATE
To learn about the state’s first vaccine shipments, which could arrive as early as mid-December, click here and here.
Kentuckians should also visit KYCOVID19.ky.gov to view the latest information available on the vaccine, including:
The draft Kentucky vaccination plan, which includes a draft outline of our planning phases, critical populations and vaccine provider enrollment and administration.
Latest News from Mayor Fischer and the City of Louisville
Mayor Fischer delivers hopeful State of the City address focused on steps toward ‘historic progress’ in 2021
‘We persevere, we keep moving, keep learning, keep working to heal our city and move forward’
LOUISVILLE, KY (Jan. 14, 2021) – Mayor Greg Fischer delivered his 11th annual State of the City address today, reflecting on the “enormous challenges” of the past year, “the potential in 2021 to make historic progress” – and Louisville’s plans to do just that.
Citing the challenges of a global pandemic and resulting economic downturn, as well as the need to advance racial equity and justice, reimagine public safety and reduce gun violence, the Mayor said, “We have all been tested in ways we’d never expected. And while sometimes those tests found us wanting, we persevere, we keep moving, keep learning, keep working to heal our city and move forward.”
The State of the City address is traditionally delivered to the Rotary Club of Louisville at the start of the new year, and during his tenure, Mayor Fischer has moved the event to various locations in the city, including last year at the new Republic Bank Foundation YMCA on West Broadway. Because of the pandemic, this year’s event was a virtual gathering.
The Mayor’s focus today was on using “the pain and frustration we’ve experienced as fuel to tackle what are, frankly, enormous challenges,” which include:
Eliminating COVID-19,
Rebuilding Louisville’s economy,
Advancing the city’s goals of racial equity and justice
And the related challenges of reimagining public safety and reducing gun violence.
“The best thing we can do and the most important choice we can make right now is to commit ourselves to finding our unique opportunities amidst the challenges, to believing in ourselves, in each other and in the possibilities of 2021 and beyond,” the Mayor said.
The Pandemic
Citing the promise of a vaccine, the Mayor said, “Our goal is that next year’s State of the City will be delivered in person, over a shared Rotary lunch. And school buses will be taking children to in-person classes. Visitors will be filling our downtown hotels, restaurants, museums, and convention center. You’ll be going back to your favorite restaurant, seeing concerts and plays and ballgames with your friends and family – without masks and without worry.”
The city opened its first drive-thru vaccination site at Broadbent Arena last week, he said, and doubled the number of shots expected to be delivered in the first week and expects to do twice more again this week. “One of the most gratifying moments of this crisis has been seeing healthcare professionals get their shots. They have risked their lives and health, sacrificed themselves and their families to serve their patients, too many of whom never went home. Our healthcare heroes have earned our respect a million times over,” he said, urging residents to “get your shot on” when the vaccine is available to more people. “It can save your life, as well as your family, friends, and neighbors and help us rebuild and move forward as a city.”
In the meantime, he said, precautions are still necessary to avoid the spread of the virus. “We just passed 700 COVID deaths in our city. In the not distant future, we’ll reach 800,” he said. “So, for now, we have to keep wearing masks and social distancing and doing what we can individually and collectively to keep more lives from being needlessly lost.”
The Economy
Acknowledging the pandemic’s economic toll – scores of jobs and businesses lost – the Mayor also cited bright spots for the city’s economic recovery, including in its core business clusters.
“Manufacturing is still strong. I’ve spoken with the leadership at Ford and GE Appliances. GE has just come off two very large appliance line expansions this past year, and both companies are optimistic about this year and the future,” he said, adding that logistics and e-commerce prospects are strong too, including at UPS Worldport, a major hub for vaccine distribution.
“Some companies in our tech sector have thrived in this challenging year, and many others in our Business Services cluster have adapted to remote working,” the Mayor said, adding that Louisville, already, home to more health and aging innovation company headquarters than anywhere in America, is poised for growth in the health/aging innovation sector, including Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare, which has hired almost 500 local employees and will be hiring more.
He acknowledged that tourism and hospitality industries were hit especially hard by the pandemic’s impact: “Locally, we have about 65,000 hospitality workers, about two-thirds of whom have been laid off or furloughed.” Noting many Metro initiatives, grant and loan funds set up to support those industries and their workers, the Mayor added, “Our tourism and hospitality and food and beverage sectors will recover. Bourbon has been thriving – good news for bourbon tourism, or Bourbonism – which is critical to those sectors. And we know once people are comfortable traveling again, we’ll be well-positioned to rebound because we’re a day’s drive from two-thirds of the U.S. population.”
The Mayor also outlined work to revitalize downtown, including increased LMPD visibility, a $1 million investment in the city’s Clean Collaborative Plan and work to address homelessness. And he announced a new team to identify and prioritize actions to speed the revitalization. “Our downtown was thriving and experiencing an amazing renaissance prior to the pandemic,” he said, and the new team, a partnership among businesses, institutions, arts, culture and other organizations, will develop new strategies and build on existing plans.
The Mayor also noted the impact of federal COVID Relief funding, including President-elect Joe Biden’s commitment to providing more assistance to state and local governments, “knowing how critical that is to keeping important city services going for our residents during this crisis.”
Advancing racial justice and equity
The Mayor also discussed “the painful reality of racism in America. That’s the pain that helped fuel the racial justice protests in our streets in 2020, just like it fueled the protests 50 years ago – and that will fuel more protests in the future unless we change course. In the past 10 years, Louisville Metro has made record investments to further the cause of racial equity, and it hasn’t been nearly enough. We have to do more.”
That work includes the city’s Build Back Better, Together initiative, launched to help the city recover from the economic downturn in a way that creates a more equitable and dynamic economy. And it’s the reason that in December, he signed an Executive Order declaring racism a public health crisis, while releasing a plan for Advancing Racial Equity that includes strategies to build Black employment and Black wealth; invest in affordable housing and homeownership programs; and support Black-owned businesses.
“These efforts help all of us by improving our tax base and increasing workforce skills and the spending power of our residents,” he said. “They make our city healthier, create more opportunities and dignity in work, produce safer neighborhoods, and send a message that our city is dedicated to compassion, opportunity, equity and justice.”
Public safety
Mayor Fischer noted that one of the messages that resonated from the protests of last year was that achieving racial equity and justice demands reimagining public safety. “And when we talk about public safety in Louisville, we have to acknowledge two fundamental facts,” he said, “First, our police officers are doing incredibly challenging, dangerous and essential work to serve and protect the people of our city. And second, our police department, like other public and private institutions in our city and across America, must evolve in terms of its culture, its structure, recruiting, training, and practices in order to strengthen police-community legitimacy, address the need for racial justice and help us create a safer city.”
The Mayor outlined changes made to bring more transparency and accountability to LMPD, including Breonna’s Law, establishing a Civilian Review and Accountability Board and Office of Inspector General, and naming Erika Shields as LMPD’s new chief.
“One of the things about Erika Shields that impressed me was that she said this was the only chief position in America that she was interested in – because she sees an opportunity for LMPD to be the best police department in the country. And it was clear that she has the passion for police work, along with the skills and experience to achieve the reform we need. That’s why she was the unanimous choice of our diverse interview panel."
The Mayor said Shields, to be sworn in on Tuesday, will implement feedback from Hilliard Heintze’s top-to-bottom review of LMPD that he called for in order to find areas for improvement and models from around the country to help guide reform. Shields’ top priorities, he said, will be to build police-community trust and reduce gun violence. “We must all be appalled by our level of gun violence – 173 homicides in a single year – and commit to doing everything we can to reverse this heartbreaking and infuriating loss of human life and human potential,” he said.
“The bottom line in all of this,” the Mayor said, “is that every person deserves to be safe and healthy in their homes, their streets, their communities, their businesses. Just as they deserve equal access to opportunity. That is the vision that my team and I have been working to create for the last 10 years and that we will be working even harder to bring to life every day for the two years remaining in my term as your mayor.”
In closing, the Mayor reflected on the upcoming celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, noting that King would surely urge Louisville to “seize this historic opportunity with what he once described as the ‘fierce urgency of now.’”
“Let’s follow his example, so that in one year, two years, 10 years, 50 years, people will look back at this moment in our history and say that if 2020 was a low point, 2021 was a turning point,” he said. “Let’s commit ourselves to our neighbors, our city and our future so that the lesson our children and grandchildren learn about this period is about more than the tragedies we experienced, but the transformation we created in response, together.”
City announces opportunity to apply for the External Agency Fund Competitive Grants
Grants available to social services and arts and creative industry organizations
LOUISVILLE, KY (January 8, 2021) - Louisville Metro Government will begin accepting External Agency Fund applications on Jan. 15, 2021 for fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022). These grants, funded through the city’s General Fund, are awarded to non-governmental or "external” agencies that contribute to the city's cultural, social and economic vitality.A summary of the application process is as follows with more details listed below:
All agencies wishing to apply should have at least one representative attend the virtual application orientation on Thursday, Jan. 14, via WebEx from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The orientation will provide information about deadlines, how to access the application and other general information.
Following the orientation, the city will begin accepting applications. The deadline to apply is Thursday, Feb. 4, by 5 p.m.
The External Agency Funds (EAF) are awarded annually to nonprofit organizations offering programs or services in Louisville/Jefferson County that align with the Mayor's strategic goals. The competitive grants are available for Social Services programs, administered by the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, and for Arts and Creative Industries programs, administered by Louisville Forward.
For the Social Services funding program, qualified nonprofits committed to providing services that achieve meaningful outcomes for Louisville citizens in the following key areas are encouraged to apply:
Decreasing homelessness;
Increasing household financial stability;
Increasing youth, teen, and/or young adult engagement in quality programming; and/or
Increasing access to services and resources for a targeted population.
For the Arts and Creative Industries funding program, qualified nonprofits committed to providing programs that achieve meaningful outcomes for Louisville citizens in the following focus areas are encouraged to apply:
Arts experiences for everyone;
Creative workforce; and/or
Creative community spaces and neighborhoods.
Applications will be reviewed by separate External Agency Fund panels, which include Metro Council members and community members, and those recommendations will be included in Mayor Greg Fischer’s recommended fiscal year 2022 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, outcomes and how the taxpayer dollars are spent.
The deadline to apply is Thursday, Feb. 4 by 5 p.m.
Councilwoman Shanklin continues drive thru COVID-19 testing for the people of District 2
Testing offered on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month
LOUISVILLE, KY – Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin (D-2) announces a new drive thru COVID-19 testing site will be available to the people of District 2 beginning on Monday, September 28th.
“It is important to make testing for COVID-19 available in as many places around the city as we can,” says Councilwoman Shanklin. “I hope the people of District 2 will take advantage of what is being offered. It’s convenient, easy to drive thru, and no appointment is necessary.”
The medical team administering the tests has been approved by Louisville Metro Government. This COVID-19 drive thru testing location is in partnership with Councilwoman Shanklin and the Newburg Church of Christ.
The COVID-19 testing is available on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at 4700 East Indian Trail on the corner of Unseld Blvd. and East Indian Trail in the church’s parking lot.
Louisville Metro's Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods offers resources to residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
As cities across the country anticipate an unprecedented wave of evictions, we want to be sure to share some important resources available to Louisville renters, small-business owners and everyone affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides the establishment of vital resources for Louisville residents, we are pleased to see the groundwork for innovative solutions such as the establishment of a Community Land Trust as well as review of the Land Development Code. These measures will help ensure equitable housing solutions moving forward. Finally, we want to ensure citizens are aware of the resources available to them, so be sure to share the below resources with friends, family, and neighbors in need.
Funds are available to households making up to 80% of Area Median Income limits. Please see the above chart for qualifications. Anyone with a pending court eviction or a past due notice from their landlord is encouraged to apply.
In an effort to preserve the countless unique small businesses across Louisville Metro, the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants Program is available. Eligible businesses who can demonstrate need can qualify for up to $50,000 in assistance.
Up to $1,000 in funds are available for households, with a demonstrated need, that have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications and supplemental documentation can be completed online. Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Cooling funds are available until October 31, or until funds are depleted. Applicants must be Jefferson County residents whose household makes 60% or less of the Kentucky State Median Income. Click the above link or call 502.991.8391 to begin.
Eligible applicants can receive a 10% reduction on MSD charges through July 31, 2021. Discount applies to MSD wastewater service charges, wastewater volume charges and consent decree surcharges. Total household income must be at or below 150% of the poverty line and with supporting documentation
The Louisville water company has not suspended water service for late payments since the onset of the pandemic. However, with over 12,000 late accounts, Louisville water Company has implemented Drops of Kindness, a catered payment solution that takes into account customer hardships as well as pairs them with community resources that can provide assistance. To learn more, click on the above link. Call 502.583.6610 to get started with a customer care representative.
Visit the Kentuckiana Job Board, which is updated weekly, to find a wide range of opportunities.
City's HUD Grant Applications Being Accepted
CDBG, ESG and HOPWA grants included
LOUISVILLE, KY (January 11, 2021) - On January 13, 2021, Louisville Metro Government (LMG) will begin accepting applications from local non-profit organizations for programs or activities seeking funding as sub-recipients to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants listed below for LMG fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022).
HUD-Funded Grants:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG),
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).
As in FY21, RCS seeks to continue to improve upon implementations of recommendations from the 2019 University of Louisville Study: Solving Street Homelessness in Louisville, KY: Improving the Climate of Care for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness. The study may be downloaded here.
RCS will accept applications for FY22 based on service categories. Below is a list of the categories RCS is seeking to fund. Service category amounts are projections. Category amounts may change after HUD allocates funding, in consultation with the Louisville Homelessness Continuum of Care (CoC).
The application link will be available on SurveyMonkey beginning Wednesday, January 13, 2021, 5 p.m. To access the application link, click here.
The Application Guidelines may be downloaded here, beginning Wednesday. January 13, 2021, 5 p.m.
There will be a virtual, mandatory orientation via Webex Friday, January 15, 10 -11:30 a.m. Please register for the Webex event: https://tinyurl.com/FY22HUDNOFAOrientation
A final public virtual meeting for questions will be held Monday, February 8, 10 -11:30 a.m. Please email Nancy Griffin (nancy.griffin@louisvilleky.gov ) if you’d like to attend the final public virtual meeting.
The deadline to submit an application is Friday, February 12, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. No late submissions will be accepted.
Tips:
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Code of Federal Regulations for the HUD grant that funds the category(ies) for which they apply. If awarded funding, applicants will be expected to meet all relevant regulations. Including, but not limited to:
2 CFR §200, which applies to CDBG, HOPWA, & ESG24 CFR §570 for federal CDBG regulations24 CFR §576 for federal ESG regulations24 CFR §574 for federal HOPWA regulations
Applications are submitted using SurveyMonkey. SurveyMonkey will NOT save partial responses. Applicants CANNOT return to incomplete applications if they exit before completing the entire application. Therefore, applicants are STRONGLY advised to draft responses in a separate program (i.e. Word) then copy/paste each answer into the SurveyMonkey application. If you exit the application before you have completed it, you will need start a new application.
This grant funding initiative is a competitive process. Applications will initially be reviewed by an external panel. Recommendations will then be presented to the Louisville Metro Council for approval. Recommendations will be made for inclusion in the FY22 Louisville Metro budget.
Any applicants representing persons of low and moderate incomes may request technical assistance from Louisville Metro to help resolve issues in their preparation of an application for funding. Applicants seeking technical assistance are asked to either send a message to Metrocompliance@louisvilleky.gov, or call Nancy Griffin at 502.574.5777.
Please submit all questions in writing to Nancy Griffin, Grants Contract Coordinator, Office of Resilience and Community Services, (502) 574.5777, nancy.griffin@louisvilleky.gov.
Circuit Court Clerk notes changes in Driver's Licensing operation
Driver’s Licenses
At this time, these five Driver’s License branches are now open and operating Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
Middletown (11700 Main St., 40243)
Outer Loop-Highview (7509 Outer Loop, 40228)
Southwest (4919 Dixie Highway, Suite A, 40216)
West Louisville (2900 W. Broadway, 40211)
Bowman Field (3501 Roger E. Schupp, 40205)
Please note:
Social distancing will be required.
Mask or face covering will be required.
At our high-volume branches, a reservation system may be utilized.
From 8 to 9 a.m. each day at each branch, Seniors and those with health issues will be served first (reservations not needed)
We highly recommend taking advantage of the Mail-in Renewal Option if you meet the applicable criteria. For details and the form, click here --https://www.drivejefferson.com/mail-in-renewal/
(Our sixth branch, at 514 West Liberty, is closed to the public due to COVID-19 and is only processing main-in renewals at this time.)
October 29, 2020 – Jefferson County Public Schools’ (JCPS) meal sites will undergo several scheduling changes in November in observance of holidays:
The new evening pick-up time is 3 - 5 p.m. instead of 4 - 6 p.m. at the eight sites currently offering evening meal distribution:
Butler Traditional High School
Carrithers Middle School
Eastern High School
Greathouse Shryock Traditional Elementary School
Male High School
Seneca High School
Valley High School
Westport Middle School
Roosevelt-Perry Elementary School will resumed evening pick up on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Farnsley Elementary School will no longer offer evening meals.
Click here for a list of schools distributing meals from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.
Update on In-School Instruction
JCPS wants to assure families that a plan is in place to safely reopen our schools when the data supports that decision. When they see a significant reduction in the number of cases, they will consult local and state health officials and make a determination about when they can safely return to in-person instruction. Students in middle and high schools will alternate between classroom and virtual learning once in-person instruction resumes at Jefferson County Public Schools, and those who refuse to follow COVID-19 guidelines could face disciplinary action. The updated planning document is available on JCPS website.
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.
If you do not see a category which corresponds to your issue, please call Metro 311 at 311.
Waste Management News
The Waste Reduction Center at 636 Meriwether Avenue is open. This is a popular disposal site for large loads of unbagged yard waste, tree limbs and stumps up to three feet in diameter, construction debris, and large household items. (Fees may apply.) Residents can dispose of up to four tires, up to three electronic items, and up to three large household items for FREE! Details can be found on the website. Open Tuesday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Batteries, light bulbs, oil-based paint, varnishes, stains, and other household hazardous waste (take to Haz Bin)
Tree trunks
Boats, hot tubs
Items from businesses
Trailers greater than 10 feet in length (larger loads can be taken to the Waste Reduction Center)
COVID-19 Policies: Staff will wear personal protective equipment, including face coverings, and will stay at least 6 feet away from citizens. Citizens should remain in their vehicle if possible and must wear a face covering if exiting their vehicle.
Help your Community and Report Potholes
One of the things we missed this Spring was the annual Pothole Blitz. But Louisville Metro fills potholes in streets and alleys every day and we need your help to report them.
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 News
Mayor Fischer announces Erika Shields will be new Chief of Louisville Metro Police
‘Experienced, progressive, reform-minded leader’ was unanimous choice of diverse interview panel; will be sworn in January 19th
LOUISVILLE, KY (January 6, 2021) — Mayor Greg Fischer today announced former Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields as the new Chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department, saying she has all the qualities that city leaders, community residents and rank-and-file described as key for leading the department into a new era.
“Erika Shields is an experienced, progressive, reform-minded leader, a well-respected visionary both locally and nationally for her ability to build strong and legitimate community and police relations; and strategize, execute, and produce results,” Mayor Fischer said. “She believes in the rules of policing but also knows when to revise them. She is skilled but open to new ideas, tough and undaunted by challenge. She is a leader, as the public called for, who not only understands but embraces the co-production of public safety, with accountability, transparency, honesty, integrity, and compassion.”
Shields said: “I am honored to be selected for this important position at this important time. I recognize that there is a lot of healing that needs to happen in policing in general, and that LMPD is at a crossroads. But I think there is also an opportunity to get this right here in Louisville, and to create a model for other cities to follow.”
Shields cited her 25 years of experience as a police officer in Atlanta, where “the population is majority Black, the Department is majority Black, and I served under Black Police Chiefs and Mayors,” and said, “As a career cop there, what this meant to me is that the ties between a history of institutional racism and policing amounted to more than mere training blocks on implicit bias or policies prohibiting discrimination. Instead, that history – and the very real challenges that remain even today for people of color – had to be a consideration in every aspect of police operations if we were going to attain success in the communities that were most in need of our services.”
Shields will be sworn in as Chief on January 19, 2021. Former LMPD assistant chief Yvette Gentry will continue to serve as Chief in the interim.
Gentry said today, “As a lifelong Louisville citizen, I look forward to seeing our city in a better place. Louisville has great people, with big hearts and endless potential. I will soon pass the baton on to Chief Shields in the best position that I can. LMPD has great men and women who need and deserve good leadership. I know she will do what she believes to be right and move the department forward to better days.”
Shields has long been an advocate for 21st Century policing – with a focus on reducing crime while strengthening trust and collaboration with residents and ensuring accountability among officers.
Shields’ bio affirms that she is committed to developing a culture of technology, innovation, excellence and transparency in policing. And in Atlanta, she worked to reduce violent crime in part by taking repeat offenders and stolen guns off the streets. She also worked closely with judicial leaders to advocate for stronger sentencing for those who commit violent felonies. And she championed a pre-arrest diversion program that allowed officers to direct suspects living in extreme poverty or with mental health issues into social services before sending them to jail.
She outlined her leadership style in a TED talk in 2019, stressing the importance of listening to, and understanding the life situations of those outside “your circle,” and noting that “if you’re going to be a driver of change, you need to be acutely aware of what’s around you.”
Shields began her law enforcement career in 1995, working as a Patrol Officer before rising to supervisory roles. She is an active member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from Webster University and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University.
Shields was among more than two dozen people who applied for the Louisville Chief’s position. The search for a new Chief was conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a non-profit Washington, D.C.-based police research organization acclaimed for guiding cities across the country on fundamental issues, such as reducing police use of force; developing community policing and problem-oriented policing; using technology to deliver police services to the community; and evaluating crime reduction strategies.
The hiring process included:
Resident input. Before posting the job description and soliciting applications, the city and PERF received input from more than 10,000 people who responded to an online survey of qualities they thought a new chief should have, as well as input that came through nearly two dozen listening sessions with various focus groups throughout the community.
These meetings, which were held both in person and virtually, included a variety of constituencies: Metro Council members and other elected officials, the business community, faith leaders, the international community, activist groups and LMPD employees.
In both the survey and the listening sessions, participants were asked what qualities are most important for a new chief; what a new chief must accomplish over the next 2-3 years; and suggestions for improving police services. Those qualities were included in the job posting.
The community was also invited to suggest interview questions for the candidates, which generally focused on steps they would take to restore confidence of citizens, especially those traditionally marginalized, in the police.
Interview panel. In October, Mayor Fischer announced the names of eight people to serve on the interview panel for a new chief, charged with conducting a detailed screening of candidates and recommending top choices.
Panelists were: Kendall Boyd, LMG Chief Equity Officer; Jessica Green, who chairs the Metro Council Public Safety Committee; LMG Public Safety Chief Amy Hess; Council President David James; LMG Chief of Community Building, Vincent James; James Peden, who is co-chair of the Council Public Safety Committee; Carmen Moreno-Rivera, who was then LMG Chief of Performance Improvement; and community representative Sharon VanCleave, a Jefferson County Public School teacher.
The panelists chose Shields unanimously as their top pick and recommended her to the Mayor.
“This is a big day. A day that has culminated from a tremendous amount of work, deliberation, and input,” said Chief Hess. “We are fortunate to have partnered with PERF on this project and I am proud of the thorough, objective, and conscientious work of this panel to find the right leader for our police department, and for our city, as we move forward.”
President James said he was impressed with the selection process and the leadership of Hess and the assistance of PERF, and added that, “The committee unanimously chose Chief Shields due to her proven track record of equitable and inclusive leadership. I’m so glad Mayor Fischer followed the recommendation of the selection committee.”
Comments from other panel members:
Chief Boyd: “I am extremely grateful to have been part of the selection process for a new police chief and excited about the choice. It’s my sincerest desire that the new police chief will help bridge the gap between LMPD and the Louisville Metro community, will provide for and enhance the well-being of our brave police officers and help ensure that our community remains safe.”
Councilwoman Green: “I am pleased to welcome our new Chief to Louisville. After an extensive search, and a unanimous recommendation by the search committee, we are welcoming a chief with extensive and progressive leadership experience. I know that our Chief is ready to get to work in this city and will work hard to continue to build positive relationships between law enforcement and community members.”
Chief James: “I’m encouraged about the direction our city is headed in selecting Erika Shields as our new Chief of Police. She has the experience, background and understanding that our community is uniquely positioned to demonstrate to the country how to build police legitimacy while allowing healing to take place simultaneously.”
Moreno-Rivera: "Participating on the Chief interview panel was important to me because I had previously facilitated listening sessions and reviewed all survey results from the community and LMPD employees. I made sure to base my discussion and evaluation of candidates on that feedback and feel that Chief Shields will be able to meet our city’s needs and expectations."
Councilman Peden: “I would like to welcome Chief Shields to Louisville, she has quite a load of work ahead of her. It will be a challenge to regain the trust of both the police force and the citizens of Louisville, but I feel she was the best candidate to do this.”
Van Cleave: "It is with great honor that I was awarded the opportunity to serve as the community representative on the interview panel. I feel highly confident that coupled with solicited input from elected leaders, the community, and the police department that we have selected the best individual to serve as the next chief of police to implement 21st Century policing principles within multi-cultural communities for our great city."
Shields replaces former LMPD Chief Steve Conrad, who was relieved of his duties on June 1. Former Deputy Chief Robert Schroeder served as interim chief until October, when he retired from LMPD. Gentry has served in the interim role since then.
Mayor Fischer thanked both Schroeder and Gentry for their leadership. During a retirement event in September, he described Schroeder as “an indispensable part of Louisville’s public safety work” for more than two decades.
And today, he praised Gentry for her commitment to the department and to the city.
“Chief Gentry, at one of the city’s lowest points, you stood up, you stepped forward, and you help lead Louisville out of the darkness and toward the light,” Mayor Fischer said. “God bless you and your family – we are all better for your service.”
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).
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!
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
We are pleased to announce that the Newburg, St. Matthews, and Shawnee libraries are now open for in-person public computer use by appointment. These three locations join the Main Library and Northeast, South Central, and Southwest regionals in offering in-person computer use and limited free printing and faxing services by appointment. Computer access islimited to one 90 minute session per day. To make an appointment, patrons should call their preferred participating location at the numbers listed below.
Main: (502) 574-1616
Newburg: (502) 479-6160
Northeast: (502) 574-1751
St. Matthews: (502) 574-1772
Shawnee: (502) 574-1722
Southwest: (502) 933-0029
South Central: (502) 964-3515
In order to reopen safely to in-person visits, library spaces and computer stations have been reconfigured to ensure safe physical distancing can be maintained. Enhanced cleaning protocols have been implemented and masks and temperature checks are required to enter library facilities. The Library will have masks available for patrons who arrive without them. The browsing of books and other materials is also not permitted at this time.
More information on computers by appointment can be found at LFPL.org/appointment.
New interactive map makes legal Short Term Rentals easy to find
Short term rental enforcement continues in large part to be complaint-driven, based on public reporting of alleged violations to administrators.
Now, there is a new tool available to help. This interactive map contains all of the registered short term rentals in Louisville having an active permit to rent their property out to paying customers on STR websites like Airbnb.
In the map sample at upper left, light blue represents properties with active registrations. Green indicates properties with active registrations and a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is required to rent the property if it is not the owner's primary residence.
If you believe someone is using a property as a short term rental but it does not show up on this registry, or if the registry indicates a non-owner occupied property does not have a CUP, then please report the issue here (select “Zoning and Business Concerns,” “Zoning Concern,” “Short Term Rental,” complete the form and submit). Or contact our office.
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.
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
