District 17 eNewsletter

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markus winkler - louisville metro council - district 17

September 3, 2021


Friday Thoughts

Happy Friday! I hope you are enjoying this cooler weather - it’s a great reminder that fall is right around the corner.

I want to first give an update on an important issue we've been working on at the Metro Council. We passed an ordinance out of committee Wednesday to help alleviate the crossing guard shortage we are managing. LMPD currently provides coverage at 116 schools in the county. However, like many employers, they are struggling to fill vacancies which leaves some schools with no guards and creates a potentially dangerous situation for many children walking to and from school.

While people have offered to volunteer or signed up to work near their school, our collective bargaining agreement allows crossing guards to bid on schools based on seniority. This means that you might be willing to work at your neighborhood school but end up assigned at the other end of the county.

Some have asked why JCPS doesn’t provide crossing guards. The Attorney General has ruled that safety along our roadways is the jurisdiction of cities and counties and schools cannot appropriate funds to provide security in that area. Also, using volunteers is complicated because people have to be trained on traffic control, must be 100% dependable rain or shine, and must pass background checks to work with children. In other words, it's more complicated than simply having some parents help for half an hour a day.

The legislation we passed (and will hopefully approve next Thursday) allows LMPD to contract with third parties. For example, LMPD could contract with schools to see if any staff members wanted to be crossing guards before or after school. They are already onsite and already work with kids. They would have to go through some training but could make some extra money before or after work. This seems like a potentially logical solution to our staffing challenge.

Finally, I want to shift gears and update you on our COVID numbers. The good news is that our local hospitals, while strained, are not as bad as in other parts of the state. The bad news is we continue to hover at levels at or higher than their peaks last year. We have done a good job of increasing vaccination rates and booster shots are now available for higher risk demographics, but we must remain vigilant. Mitigation efforts that have proven effective such as masking and social distancing should still be utilized whenever possible. We can regain the ground we've lost to the Delta variant and keep kids in school, businesses open, and events on the calendar. I don’t like it either and want it to be behind us as much as anyone, but I will accept minor inconveniences to keep the economy open and hope you will consider doing your part to help.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, stay safe, and please call anytime if we can help.


Contact the District 17 Office


Markus Winkler
17th District Councilman

502.574.1117
markus.winkler@louisvilleky.gov

 

Kip Eatherly
Legislative Aide

502.574.3462
kip.eatherly@louisvilleky.gov


Important Numbers

Animal Services   473-7387
Codes & Regulations   574-2508
EACM   426-2824
Health & Wellness   574-6520
Jefferson Co. Clerk   574-5700
KY Science Center   561-6100
LG&E   589-1444
LMPD (8th Division)   574-2258
Louisville Water   583-6610
Louisville Zoo   459-2181
Mayor's Office   574-2003
MSD   540-6000
NE Regional Library   394-0379
Parks   574-7275
Planning   574-6230
Public Works   574-5810
TARC   585-1234

COVID Update

COVID


I touched on COVID above, but I wanted to elaborate just a bit on the numbers. We had 3,926 cases added in the past week, almost as many as we've had in one week since COVID began. The highest rates of positive cases belongs to those between the ages of 25 and 34. Our daily incidence rate is 73.1 cases/100,000 people.

We are making some progress in vaccinations as 60.9% of Louisville residents have received at least one dose, but we still have work to do. Please talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or someone you know who has been vaccinated about their experience and get vaccinated if it is right for you. We have more than 100 sites offering free shots, so please don't wait. Click here for a list of locations or for more information on the vaccine.
   


Redistricting

The Ad Hoc Committee on Redistricting will have its first public comment opportunity at our meeting on Wednesday, September 8 at 5 p.m. Those who wish to speak are requested to sign up the day before from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Speakers can make their comments in person or virtually. The U. S. Census Bureau has some information about our current local population here. If you're curious why we're required to do this in the first place, MetroTV recently produced a 4-minute video that does a fantastic job explaining that and some of the considerations that will come into play.
  


Worldfest and Mayor's Hike & Bike

Worldfest


If you're looking for something fun to do with the family this weekend, consider a couple of events that have become staples of the Labor Day Weekend: Worldfest and the Mayor's Hike, Bike, & Paddle. Worldfest kicks off today and runs through Monday. Located on the Belvedere, Worldfest will include a Global Village with more than 20 countries represented, 40+ food vendors, and nearly 100 booths. Click here for more information including hours and a schedule of entertainment.

Unfortunately, the paddle portion of the Mayor's Hike, Bike, and Paddle on Monday has been cancelled due to dangerous conditions on the Ohio River. The hiking and biking will go on as planned, however, beginning at the Community Boat House, 1325 River Road. There will be multiple routes for those wishing to hike and a new 15-mile route for cyclists. T-shirts are available for the first 2,500 participants. Visit the Hike, Bike, & Paddle website for more information.
 


Westport Road Resurfacing

Some of you may have noticed work being done along Westport Road over the last couple of weeks. This was preliminary work in preparation for a resurfacing project on Westport Road from Freys Hill Road to KY 146 (La Grange Road). A start date is not yet known, but the project has a completion date of October 15, 2021. Please be mindful of workers in the area over the next several weeks. 


Derby City Nationals at Tom Sawyer Park


The Derby City Nationals will be held this weekend at E. P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park. Events begin today at 2:30 p.m. and start up again tomorrow and Sunday at 9 a.m. The BMX track at the park is one of only six of its kind in the nation which will draw thousands to the event, including many professionals. That's great for our city, but it will mean more than a few extra cars in the area. Please be aware if you have any plans that way over the weekend. 


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