|
from MSD...
MSD's clAIRity Program is an initiative to help reduce sewer and wastewater treatment odors now and in the future. During rain events, sewer pipes in some older parts of our city can fill with rainwater which dilutes the sewage and helps it move faster to a water quality treatment center. Long stretches of hot and dry weather, on the other hand, lead to sewage moving more slowly through the system. This gives it more time to decompose and create odors before reaching a treatment facility. These odors often escape through dry catch basins creating a nuisance for residents.
MSD recently engaged with a consultant to assess the five water quality treatment centers in Jefferson County and identify opportunities to improve its odor-reduction systems. Those recommendations will be included in a multi-year master plan that prioritizes investments in these systems in future capital budgets.
The link above includes an easy way to report odors, learn more about past and future community meetings on this subject, and see details on odor complaints that have been reported going back to January of last year. You can also take a survey regarding this issue if you have feedback that would be helpful to MSD in this process.
MSD Triples Rate Discount for Low-income Customers
Senior Discount Recipients Must Recertify Eligibility
The Louisville MSD rate discount for low-income customers triples from the previous 10 percent to 30 percent effective with billing periods beginning on or after October 1, 2022. It will also be easier to apply for the discount because of a new partnership with the Louisville Metro office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS).
Eligibility for MSD’s Emergency Wastewater Rate Assistance Program (EWRAP) is limited to households at or below 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
RCS will handle a one stop application process covering both EWRAP and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). That means applicants will submit documentation only once instead of having to go through separate processes for wastewater discounts and energy assistance.
RCS will also take applications for the MSD Senior Citizen Discount Program. New this year, seniors already receiving the discount must recertify eligibility each year before the anniversary of their previous approval date by filing a new application. The program provides a 30 percent discount for customers age 65 and above with gross household incomes of less than $35,000. Seniors may also continue to apply directly with MSD at louisvillemsd.org/paymybill.
EWRAP is approved for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. The MSD Board will decide each year whether to continue the program.
Jefferson County MSD customers can make appointments for LIHEAP registration and EWRAP application by phone at 502-991-8391 or online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.
From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet...
Peak season for collisions involving deer in Oct-Nov-Dec
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 4, 2022) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has issued an annual "Antler Alert" to remind motorists that the peak season for deer-vehicle collisions has arrived. About half of all such crashes occur during the last three months of the year.
"October, November, and December bring a noticeable increase in highway collisions involving deer," KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said. "We’d like to remind drivers to be especially watchful for deer and other wildlife on the move at dusk and at night, when poor visibility is already an issue.”
According to Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Deer Program Coordinator Noelle Thompson, shorter days and cooler nights help to trigger deer mating season and put deer on the move.
“The onset of autumn brings about physiological changes in male deer,” Thompson said. “Bachelor groups of bucks break up and expand from their core area, leading to increased deer movement and the possibility of being hit on the roadways.”
Autumn harvesting also contributes to this movement as deer are forced to range farther afield for forage and hiding places.
In addition to causing vehicle damage, deer can be hazardous to humans. Deer are among the leading causes of animal-related human fatalities in the United States, contributing to about 200 deaths on the highway every year.
In Kentucky, 2,988 highway crashes involving deer were reported to police in 2021, according to crash data used by the KYTC Office of Highway Safety to monitor highway crash trends. That was an increase of about 100 crashes from 2020. There were three reported fatalities and 25 serious injuries due to deer collisions in 2021.
A complete list of deer-vehicle crashes listed county-by-county can be found here.
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., which uses insurance claims to produce a closely followed annual report on collisions involving wildlife, said deer accounted for 1.5 million of the 1.9 million animal collision claims in the United States for the year ending June 30, 2020.
On average, U.S. drivers have a 1 in 116 chance of a collision with an animal. Kentucky ranks above the national average and 18th among the states at 1 chance in 88. Drivers in neighboring West Virginia run the highest risk – 1 in 37, according to State Farm.
KYTC offers these driving tips:
- Slow down immediately upon spotting a deer crossing the roadway; they tend to travel in groups.
- Don’t swerve to avoid a deer, which can result in a more serious crash with an oncoming vehicle or roadside object.
- In the event of a crash, keep both hands on the wheel and apply brakes steadily until stopped.
- Always wear a seat belt.
- Keep headlights on bright at night unless other vehicles are approaching.
- Eliminate distractions while driving: Phones down!
- Drive defensively, constantly scanning the roadside, especially at dawn and dusk, when deer are most active.
Motorists are asked to report all deer-vehicle collisions to police. KYTC traffic engineers use the crash data to aid in placing deer-crossing warning signs and other safety measures.
##
Deer Crash Numbers 2017 to 2021
|
Year
|
Total Collisions
|
Fatalities
|
Suspected Serious Injury
|
Suspected Non-Serious Injury
|
Possible Injury
|
|
2021
|
2,988
|
3
|
25
|
82
|
58
|
|
2020
|
2,886
|
3
|
11
|
65
|
80
|
|
2019
|
3,069
|
3
|
12
|
71
|
82
|
|
2018
|
3,073
|
3
|
8
|
45
|
82
|
|
2017
|
3,181
|
0
|
17
|
66
|
86
|
For further information on Councilman Scott Reed or District 16 please visit www.louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-16
Having Trouble Viewing this eNewsletter? Click here to view it on the web.
|
