 Councilwoman
Madonna Flood
Legislative Assistant
Oscar Heithaus
City Hall
601 W. Jefferson Street
502-574-1124
Welcome to District 24 E-Newsletter! To learn more about events and services in our district, check out our webpage!
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Record COVID-19 Numbers
Over the holidays, COVID-19 reemerged with a vengeance in Louisville Metro due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Yesterday, the Louisville Metro Health Department reported a record positivity rate of over 28% and astronomical case numbers in our region, like much of the state and the rest of the U.S. While science is continuing to show this variant is substantially milder and causing less severe illness than previous variants, it still poses a threat to health, particularly for unvaccinated people, and a major threat to disrupting our economy, services and businesses. For example, earlier this week, TARC noted driver shortages and encouraged TARC3 customers to book essential trips only.
To keep our economy running, Greater Louisville Inc. this week recommended a few things residents and businesses can do to help curb the spread and mitigate impacts to our economy:
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Resume mask-wearing in indoor settings. Public health experts urge everyone to upgrade from cloth masks to surgical masks and claim Kn95 and N95 masks are superior at filtering out Omicron.
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Encourage vaccinations and boosters. Science shows that while more breakthrough cases are occurring with Omicron, the vaccines are still excellent at preventing severe illness and death. If you have not already, get vaccinated and if you’re eligible do not delay getting a booster. As business leaders, we encourage you to also work with your staff to ensure they are vaccinated and boosted. Find vaccine and booster shots.
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Get tested if you have symptoms or a known exposure. While demand for tests has escalated, many sites still have same day appointments or no appointment requirements. The CDC recommends testing 3-5 days after an exposure or at the onset of symptoms.
Find a Covid-19 test:
COVID-19 testing is widely available throughout the Commonwealth. If you need a COVID-19 test, please contact your healthcare provider, urgent treatment center, healthcare clinic, or pharmacy. Find testing sites in Louisville here.
Some additional options that might be available to you include:
Kentuckians can enroll until January 15. Free help is available to Kentuckians during this Open Enrollment Period.
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Anything that makes sounds, lights up, or turns on without being plugged in contains a battery. Batteries contain toxic metals, such as lead, cadmium, and lithium that can be released into the environment when disposed of the wrong way.
All types of batteries, especially lithium, or Li-ion, also hold a small amount of charge, called a “residual” charge, after they are no longer strong enough to run a camera, toy, or other product. The residual charge or energy may be released as heat or fire if batteries are damaged or punctured. Batteries should always be stored so that the terminals (or + and – ends) are not touching each other or any type of metal. Store them in their original packaging which is designed to keep terminals separated.
Batteries that are damaged by compactor trucks or recycling facility equipment may catch all of the recyclables on fire! Fires caused by lithium and other batteries have resulted in the damage or complete destruction of recycling facilities.
Your batteries will be safely recycled if you take them to our Household Hazardous Waste facility (Haz Bin), located at 7501 Grade Lane, or to a store that collects batteries for recycling. (Alkaline batteries are environmentally safe for the trash, but they are accepted for recycling at the HazBin.)
If you have batteries to dispose, check out this step by step guide.
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For 40 years, the Metropolitan Business Development Corporation (METCO) Board has supported small businesses across Jefferson County through a variety of loan programs, including this year, when it approved nearly $3.2 million in low-interest loans to assist small businesses.
This week, Mayor Greg Fischer announced the city is expanding eligibility for two of its loan programs. The METCO Board, which oversees all of Louisville Metro Government's small business loan programs, approved the expansion to its Business Accelerator and Commercial Renovation loan programs at its December meeting after Metro Council approved $1.5 million in new funds for the small business loan program earlier this year.
The Business Accelerator Loan is now available to small businesses operating in any low- to moderate-income neighborhood in Jefferson County. The Commercial Renovation Loan is now available to commercial properties that are in serious need of repair regardless of occupancy; the loans were previously restricted to properties that had been vacant for a substantial amount of time. By removing the vacancy requirement, METCO hopes to jumpstart the renovation of more spaces that could be occupied by a business.
Earlier this year, the board also approved another program revision allowing cooperatively owned businesses to borrow from METCO as long as shareholders or owners with interest equaling 50% or more provide limited personal guarantees.
To learn more about the city’s small business loan programs, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/louisville-forward/local-loan-programs.
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Are you looking for a public place to exchange items you've sold online? Do you share custody of a child and are looking for somewhere to exchange custody?
The Louisville Metro Police Department is providing MetroSWAP Zones outside of some Division offices. There is 24 hour video surveillance. LMPD recommends:
- Agree to meet the person ONLY at a MetroSWAP station.
- Meet only during daylight hours.
- Tell someone you trust where you are meeting and at what time.
- Meet in the parking lot. There will be two designated parking spots at each location for use.
- Make this interaction brief and to the point.
MetroSWAP Zones are at:
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Last month Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services began accepting appointments for the new Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, or LIHWAP. LIHWAP is a temporary emergency water/wastewater program intended to help low income households and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to the longstanding LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), LIHWAP will assist Jefferson County households within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, but with water and wastewater benefits instead of home energy.
LIHWAP will consist of two components: 1) the Crisis Component which provides assistance to eligible households experiencing a home water service crisis, and 2) the Subsidy Component which provides assistance to all eligible households regardless of the status of their water bill.
The Crisis Component operates from now through June 1, 2022, or until available funds have been expended. The Subsidy Component will begin operating January 10, 2022, however pre-registration opportunities are available for elderly and those with disabilities who meet the other criteria listed below under eligibility.
Appointments are required in advance to apply for LIHWAP to make a Drop-off appointment utilizing an automated appointment system described below.
How to apply: Jefferson County residents meeting eligibility can call the automated scheduler at 502-991-8391 or visit online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.
Eligibility for Crisis Component:
- Households within 150% of 2021-22 Federal Poverty Guidelines, and
- Louisville Water/MSD account in arrears, or
- Active payment plan due to arrears, or
- Received a past due or disconnect notice, or
- Water service has been disconnected.
Eligibility for Pre-registration of Subsidy Component:
- Households within 150% of 2021-22 Federal Poverty Guidelines regardless of the status of their water bill, and
- Households including elderly individuals (60 years or older) or persons with disabilities who receive a fixed income (Social Security, SSI, pension or Black Lung benefits).
Applicants who meet the criteria for the Crisis Component will also be processed for the Subsidy Pre-registration. Starting Jan. 10, all income households in Jefferson County can apply for the LIHWAP Subsidy Component.
For the Crisis Component, households can receive assistance for the minimum needed to alleviate the water and wastewater crisis up to $800. Households can reapply until they reached the maximum benefit. For the Subsidy Component, the benefit range is between $100 - $400, depending on household size and type, income level and other criteria.
For more descriptions about the LIHWAP drop box locations, income eligibility and other instructions, call the automated LIHWAP information line at 991-8391 or visit louisvilleky.cascheduler.com. Residents may also visit https://louisvilleky.gov/LIHEAP for more details.
Individuals who require more information can contact Metro311 by simply dialing 311 or (502) 574-5000, email metro.311@louisvilleky.gov, tweet @LouMetro311, Web: louisvilleky.gov/tell311, or download the free Mobile Louisville Metro 311 app from the website. Residents can also call Metro United Way’s 2-1-1 help referral service.
The Louisville Zoo’s Kroger Wild Winter Days continues through Feb. 28, 2022 with discounted winter admission and a Dare to Care food drive.
The Zoo is proud to team up with Kroger and Dare to Care again to help struggling families in our community. Guests who bring at least one canned food item per person may purchase tickets at the Zoo windows for $9.50 per adult and $6.50 per child/senior ticket.
The discount is available at the gate only; not valid for online purchases. The offer is not valid for special fee-based programs, for prepaid groups, field trips or with other discounts. No refunds will be provided for tickets prepaid in advanced or purchase online. Multiple cans are appreciated but only one discount per admission; additional cans do not provide additional discounts. Some of Dare to Care Food Bank’s most needed items are canned meats like tuna, as well as canned fruit, beans, peanut butter, soup, rice, cereal, fruit juice, pasta and canned vegetables. Please avoid glass containers. More details are available at www.louisvillezoo.org/wildwinterdays.
The Zoo is open daily year-round. Fall/winter hours continue through March 20, 2022, 10 a.m. ─ 4 p.m. (stay until 5 p.m.).
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