District 26 eNews | Have a Safe Labor Day Weekend

AckersonHeader4

Brent T. Ackerson

26th District Councilman
502-574-1126
brent.ackerson@louisvilleky.gov

 

Jeff T. Noble

Legislative Aide
502-574-1126
jeff.noble@louisvilleky.gov

Michael Garton

District Liaison
502-574-1126

michael.garton@louisvilleky.gov


PHONE DIRECTORY

Animal Control - 363-6609 

Bon Air Library - 574-1795

County Clerk - 574-5700

Courts System - 595-4428

Drivers License - Bowman Field 595-4405

Drivers License - Downtown    595-4924

Health and Wellness - 574-6520

LG&E - 589-1444

Louisville Water Company -      583-6610

MetroCall - 311

Mosquito Control - 574-6641

MSD - 540-6000

Poison Control - 589-8222

Police - LMPD - 574-2187

Police - St. Matthews - 893-9000

PVA - 574-6380

State Highway Office - 210-5400

TARC - 585-1234

Veterans Affairs - 595-4447

Zoo - 459-2181

 

 

Dear Neighbor,

Although I have no doubt that we are all looking forward to a long weekend with family and friends, we should still take time for reasonable precautions to protect ourselves, our families, and our community from the continuing pandemic.

We are now at the second-highest infection rate since COVID-19 emerged. We will have to work together and look out for each other to reverse the dangerous course we are on. In truth, that's how Labor Day came to be. Workers who faced dangers and hazards in their workplaces got together and collectively bargained for better, safer, and cleaner working conditions that helped them lead better lives and spend more time with their families.

Labor Day celebrates the individuals who stood up to oppressive forces for the greater good and for those who they probably never met or knew. Many of our friends and neighbors have battled COVID-19 and too many have perished. The most striking increases in hospitalizations today for coronavirus are among our kids.

The Kentucky Children's Hospital in Lexington is at capacity. If you haven't gotten vaccinated, or if you know someone who hasn't, do it for the children in our community. Wear a mask indoors for the children in our community, and know that those small inconveniences really do save lives. And that is always something to celebrate.

Be safe and have a good weekend, 

Brent Signature

Brent T. Ackerson
26th District Councilman


COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION

vaccine

In This Issue:


Delayed Waste Collection in the USD

There will be no residential garbage, recycling, yard waste or bulky waste collection within the Louisville Metro Urban Services District (former Louisville city limits) on Monday, September 6, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Collection through the week will be delayed by one day because of the holiday.

The week of September 6 is a recycling collection week in the USD under the new every other week schedule, which means that recycling (and yard waste) in most of the D26 portion of the USD will be collected on Friday, September 10, or Saturday, September 11.

To receive automatic reminders of changes due to holidays, download the Recycle Coach app at the App Store or on Google Play

Waste and recycling pickup in St. Matthews will also be delayed because of the holiday.

Any residents who rely on private haulers for garbage, recycling and yard waste collection should consult those haulers about holiday collection schedules. 

Also, Metro’s three staffed recycling drop-off locations, the Waste Reduction Center, and the Haz Bin hazardous waste disposal site, will be closed on Saturday, September 4 in recognition of the holiday and closed on Monday as usual. A map and complete list of the drop-off sites and regular operating hours can be found on the SWMS website.

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Sept 6 | Hike, Bike, No Paddle

Louisville cyclists and walkers will be on the move again at the Mayor’s Hike, Bike & Paddle Monday, September 6, as it returns for another Labor Day at a new location at the Community Boat House at 1325 River Road. All portions of the event have been reworked to ensure participants will be socially distanced.

T-shirts will be available for the first 2,500 participants while supplies last. The Bike Injury Association will also be fitting bike helmets for cyclists who don’t have one.

For hikers, this year features three routes, including one option that goes over the Big Four Bridge to Jeffersonville and back to the Great Lawn, another route to the Big Four Bridge, and a 5k hike to the Belle of Louisville and back.

For cyclists, a new 15-mile route will leave from the Community Boat House under the Louisville Sports Commission arch at 9:00 a.m. going on a scenic out and back route along the Ohio River on River Road to the new east end bridge.

The paddling portion has been canceled due to unsafe river conditions resulting from high water levels.

Starting at 8 a.m., the event will showcase demonstrations and group participation in Yoga and Zumba, adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Participants are encouraged to bring water bottles, as there will be no refill station this year.

To learn more about the event, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/city-events/mayors-hike-bike-and-paddle.  

hikebike

Waterfront Wednesdays CANCELLED

Fearing for the health and safety of the community, Louisville Public Media announced that it will cancel the remaining two free concerts in its popular 91.9 WFPK Waterfront Wednesday series due to the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases across the state. 

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COVID-19 Utility Relief Program Adds Funds

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Louisville Metro is adding $2.5 million to its COVID-19 Utility Relief program to help residents who have fallen behind on Louisville Water and Louisville MSD bills as a result of COVID-19.     

The funds will go toward the Louisville Water Company/MSD’s Drops of Kindness program to assist residents with a past-due amount on an active Louisville Water/MSD account. The outstanding balance must have occurred between March 16, 2020, and June 30, 2021, and customers will need to attest they have had a financial hardship during the pandemic.

Qualifying customers can receive a one-time credit of up to $1,000 on their Louisville Water/MSD bill.  

Funding for this assistance comes from Louisville’s first round of spending of its federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) dollars, which were targeted at urgent needs.

For eligibility and to schedule an appointment for help with an LG&E bill, call 502-977-6636 or visit online at LGEHelp.itfrontdesk.com. The toll-free service is currently open and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information on both programs, residents can visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services, call Metro United Way’s help referral service at 211, or Metro311 by simply dialing 311 or (502) 574-5000 or email metro.311@louisvilleky.gov.


Public Comment on 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.


MSD offering Tree Planting Grants

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The Louisville MSD Urban Reforestation Grants Program is now accepting applications for tree planting projects. Grants will pay for trees planted within the MSD Drainage Service area, which includes all of Jefferson County except for the cities of Shively, Jeffersontown, St. Matthews and Anchorage. Download the application here Urban Reforestation Grant Application or at https://louisvillemsd.org/trees. The application deadline is Wednesday September 15th at 5pm ET. Please contact Jennifer Kern at Jennifer.Kern@LouisvilleMSD.org or (502)540‐6241 with any questions.

The MSD Urban Reforestation Program plants 1,000 trees annually by working with local residents, businesses, municipal organizations and neighborhood associations. These trees redirect an average of 1.35 million gallons of stormwater away from the sewer system every year, which decreases sewer overflows into our waterways. By planting more trees, MSD not only absorbs stormwater but also reduces erosion and flooding, provides shade, reduces noise pollution and carbon dioxide in the air, and
provides a habitat for nearby wildlife.


Need help paying your LG&E bill?

LGE

Metro Corrections is Hiring

corrections

Programs offer financial incentives to recruit and retain Corrections staff

The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC) Director Dwayne Clark today announced three pilot projects designed to boost recruitment and retention of LMDC sworn staff.

The three pilot projects were developed in partnership with unions representing LMDC civilian and sworn staff, represented by FOP Corrections Union Lodge 77 and AFSCME Local 2629:

  • The first pilot project will provide financial incentives to LMDC employees who refer a candidate for sworn staff employment at Corrections. The incentives will be staggered as the recruit moves from training to swearing in, with a potential total of $1,050.00. The staggered method, with incentives increasing as the candidate moves through the process, is also designed to encourage staff to mentor their recruits and to be invested in the recruit’s success.
  • The second pilot project provides a hiring incentive to new recruits of $2,000.00, with successful candidates receiving $1,000.00 when they are sworn in and another $1,000.00 when they complete a probationary period.
  • The third pilot project aims to improve retention among sworn and civilian LMDC staff. Eligible employees who continue their employment with Corrections can receive up to $2,000.00 in Fiscal Year 2022, which began July 1.  Eligible employees working today on Sept. 1, 2021, will receive $1,000.00.  All of those eligible employees who are still working on June 1, 2022, will receive an additional $1,000.00.

All three pilot efforts are designed to work in conjunction with one another. For now, the year-long pilot projects will operate only at Corrections. If successful, they could serve as models for other Metro Government public service agencies. 

If you would like to apply for a job with LMDC, please visit the department website at Louisville Corrections Careers | LouisvilleKY.gov.


Public Libraries are now FINE FREE!

Staring this month, LFPL will no longer charge fined for overdue items. Louisville officially joins library systems across the country who recognize that fines do not ensure the return of borrowed materials but merely create a barrier to library services that disproportionately affects people who need access the most.

Click here for more information.

libraries

We are in and out of the office more these days, but are still restricted as far as in-person meetings and communications. Please contact us at the emails listed in the above-left column or by phone at (502) 574-1126 with any questions or concerns.  Thank you.