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Hello Neighbors and Friends,
During the February 7th JCPS school board meeting, a motion was made by board member Dr. Corrie Shull for Dr. Pollio to present the board with a proposal to install metal detectors in the schools. Six board members voted in favor of the motion, and one lone dissenting board member, Dr. Chris Kolb, voted against the measure, stating that “racial bias will happen, with the implantation, criminalization of Black children will happen, because it has happened everywhere they have been installed."
Dr. Shull stated in a later interview that he made the motion for metal detectors because he believes many students don’t feel safe on their commutes to and from school, which is why many students are taking guns to school. “The situation keeps getting worse. We keep discovering guns in school buildings. We keep traumatizing students, sending letters to parents informing them that a gun has been found. All of that is creating an environment that makes it difficult to accomplish the goals of public education” (Shull, C., 2023, February 9, The situation keeps getting worse. WAVE3.com. ‘The situation keeps getting worse:’ JCPS Board member speaks on guns in schools (wave3.com))
I write about Dr. Shull’s metal detection motion to explain the role of Metro Council in regard to public safety and the school board, and to address Dr. Shull’s statement that “individuals who have been elected to serve on the city council should live up to their elected responsibility to ensure and to insist on public safety...and the responsibility to keep students safe is falling to the Board of Education."
I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Corrie Shull that the responsibility for public safety in this community should not be abdicated to the JCPS school board. Also, I trust that the school board is working with and leaning on the mayor’s office, the governing body of the LMPD, to discuss available safety programs and strategize ways to eradicate violence among school children, gun possession in schools, and rehabilitation, not incarceration, of students who break the laws.
It is essential for effective local government that our new mayor and his staff, all council members (my colleagues), and citizens of this community understand the roles of city government vs. the functions of the Metro Council and their interrelationships with one another and the school system.
Conflicts in these very distinct roles can result in confusion and consequential overstepping boundaries. Although these boundaries may need to be clarified in some cases, there is a basic structure of city government and Metro Council from which these roles derive. Therefore, because of the verbal exchanges during Tuesday's school board meeting between school board member Dr. Shull and Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini (R – District 19), I feel compelled to explain the separation of duties between the Mayor’s Office and the Metro Council.
*Consider this chart:
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Branch of Government
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Federal- or State-Level Example
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City-Level Example
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Legislative Branch
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Congress / State Legislature
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Metro Council
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Judicial Branch
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Supreme Court/Court of Appeals/Circuit Court/ District Court
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Circuit Court, District Court, and Family Court
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Executive Branch
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President / Governor
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Mayor
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*TO READ THE REST OF MY MESSAGE, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE NEWSLETTER.
Below is a summary of this week's Metro Council committee meetings:
The Planning and Zoning Committee approved the One Park North development at Grinstead and Lexington Road. Other changes to zoning included properties in Butchertown, Germantown, near St. Matthews and along St. Andrews Church Road.
The Labor and Economic Development Committee approved an ordinance which would mandate any business receiving or contracting over $50,000 with Metro government must report instances of workplace sexual harassment and prohibits those organizations from entering into sexual assault and harassment non-disclosure agreements. The committee also approved financial incentives to Consumer Cellular for a call center.
The Community Affairs and Equity Committee adopted a resolution supporting HB 66 which would create winter and summer temperature standards for disconnecting electric and gas utilities.
The Government Oversight and Audit Committee approved an amended contract with the University of Louisville’s Dr. Paul Coomes. It will study Metro’s revenues and expenditures as requested by the Louisville Metro Comprehensive Review Commission, established by the 2022 General Assembly’s adoption of HB 314.
The Parks and Sustainability Committee was given a sustainability overview and update from the Mayor’s new Office of Sustainability.
The Budget Committee approved several Council-initiated projects including license plate scanners and streetlights.
Note: When legislation is passed out of committee, it goes to full Council, where it may be discussed further. Legislation becomes law after the full Council passes it and the Mayor signs it.
The next regularly scheduled Metro Council meeting will be held on Thursday, February 16th at 6pm.
To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here.
The public can also view all council and committee meetings on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99. Proceedings are live streamed from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page here.
To watch the Council meeting and access the agenda and related attachments, click here.
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The One Love Louisville Ambassador Training is a free, in-person training scheduled for March 11th, 2023. Based off our current lineup of presenters, we will meet from 9:00am-2:00pm at Shawnee Baptist Church, located at 2214 Bank Street, 40212, and lunch will be served. We will hear from experts as they cover a range of topics including Firearm Safety, spot suicide with Question Persuade Refer (QPR), Stop the Bleed, and The Public Health Approach to Violence. This training, which has been attended by over 800 people since its inception in 2017, aims to inform participants of individual and collective efforts to reduce violence in Louisville. For many of our participants, this is a gateway to get involved with our office, and our wonderful partner organizations working to curb violence in our community. If you have ever wanted to get plugged in to this work, the Ambassador Training is a great place to start. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/violence-prevention-ambassador-training-with-whitney-strong-tickets-526582160417
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Dear Community Partner,
In an effort to keep you informed on the construction details of the new Louisville Veterans Affairs Medical Center being built, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District is happy to share this information on the major activities planned for the coming week.
As construction moves into activities that should be less disruptive to our neighbors, we are transitioning the weekly update to bi-weekly. We still invite you to contact us with any questions you may have as the work continues.
Please feel free to respond to this email with any specific questions you may have in regards to the construction process. Keep in mind responses may be delayed if questions are received outside of our regular office hours, which are 8 am to 5pm Monday through Friday or federal holidays.
Thank you,
USACE Louisville District Public Affairs
To read about the most recent VA Medical Center construction events, go to:
https://www.va.gov/louisville-health-care/programs/new-robley-rex-va-medical-center
To request weekly updates about the construction events, send an email requesting updates to: LOUVAMCCONSTRUCTION@USACE.ARMY.MIL
For ALL construction-related inquiries, please email:
LOUVAMCCONSTRUCTION@USACE.ARMY.MIL
Check us out on social media:
Building Permit Applications From 2/3/2023 to 2/9/2023:
| Permit ID |
Ap Type |
Address |
Contact Name |
Submit Date |
Total
Sq Ft |
Est Cost |
| COM-ALT-23-00069 |
Commercial Alteration |
7900 SHELBYVILLE RD |
Morris Workshop Architects |
02/03/2023 |
1500 |
200000 |
| RES-ADD-23-00052 |
Residential Addition |
511 BROOKVIEW RD |
HoneyComb Construction |
02/04/2023 |
-- |
80000 |
| RES-ADD-23-00055 |
Residential Addition |
4039 ORMOND RD |
Abundant Redemption |
02/06/2023 |
680 |
125000 |
| COM-ALT-23-00074 |
Commercial Alteration |
1200 CANTERCHASE DR |
Miranda Construction |
02/06/2023 |
9500 |
318000 |
| RES-ALT-23-00140 |
Residential Alteration |
528 FOUNTAIN AVE |
Solgen Power, LLC |
02/07/2023 |
0 |
4085 |
| RES-ADD-23-00064 |
Residential Addition |
400 N HUBBARDS LN |
David Esterle |
02/08/2023 |
730 |
50000 |
| RES-ALT-23-00153 |
Residential Alteration |
1204 CREIGHTON HILL RD |
Donna Dusel |
02/08/2023 |
-- |
240000 |
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Premium polarized sunglasses company Shady Rays will open a fourth storefront this summer at Oxmoor Center. The retailer plans to start construction on a 1,543-sqft space near Anthropologie and Von Maur in March. The Louisville-founded brand also sells prescription glasses, UV shirts, and snow googles.
Large Item Pickup by appointment is being phased into the entire Urban Services District. Once appointments are available for your address, you will be able to quickly get rid of up to four large items, once per week, by simply making an appointment on the Metro311 app or website. This means more opportunities to dispose of large items, less "junk" sitting out for weeks, and improved neighborhood cleanliness!
Most residents are scheduling their appointments with ease and following the guidelines. We appreciate everyone's patience as we phase in the new appointment system to all areas.
Top 5 mistakes we've seen so far:
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Resident set out items that were not listed on the confirmation email. If you describe an item that is unaccepted, you'll receive a separate email letting you know that one or more of your items is not allowed. Your confirmation email will only list the items from your request that are acceptable. Please note: Bags/boxes of small items are NOT accepted.
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Resident broke an item into small pieces. If an item is in many small pieces, it is no longer a large item and should be placed in your garbage cart! Keep your items as intact as possible so they can be easily collected with no litter or debris left behind.
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Resident made an appointment for an address other than their own. Doing this can hinder our education process. If you see a pile of debris in front of or behind someone's property, please report this as a violation rather than making an appointment on their behalf. This is especially an issue when the pile includes unacceptable material. Report to Metro311 under "Trash Complaints and Violations" and "Waste Violation."
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Items are blocked by a vehicle. Collection crews use heavy equipment to collect the items and they are unable to maneuver around parked vehicles. All items should be clear of other objects and should never block sidewalks or streets.
Resident didn't include a description of the item. If your item is not listed in the dropdown list or if the choice is vague (e.g., Furniture item), please include a description so our collection crews know what to expect to find.
All areas are eligible to make appointments after their last "junk" set out weekend. The areas that had setout dates Oct 21-23, Nov 4-6, Nov 11-13, Dec 2-4, Dec 9-11, Dec 16-18, Jan 6-8, Jan 20-22, and Jan 27-29 are currently able to make appointments. Area J will be able to make appointments beginning Feb 13. Area K may set out large items Feb 17-19 and will be able to make appointments beginning Feb 27. Find your final setout weekend at Louisvilleky.gov by clicking "Address Lookup." When your address is on the appointment system, you can make an appointment up to once per week for up to 4 large items to be picked up. Households and property owners will receive a letter and info card in the mail.
If you'd like a representative to attend a community meeting and share about this program or other waste-related topics, contact the Solid Waste Education Department.
Nearly 4 in 10 U.S. adults reported that a member of their household fell ill with COVID, flu, or RSV from the December holidays through mid-January.
The most recent KFF COVID Vaccine Monitor found someone had:
- Flu: 27% of households
- COVID: 15% of households
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RSV: 10% of households
Nearly three years after COVID first hit, most people (69%) are “not too” or “not at all” worried about getting seriously ill from the coronavirus, although some (31%) still say they are concerned. By comparison, 26% worry about flu and 25% about RSV.
With the viruses spreading this winter, nearly half of adults (46%) say the news of COVID-19, flu, and RSV have made them more likely to take at least one protective measure. This includes 3 in 10 (31%) who say they are more likely to wear a mask in public.
Many viruses can be prevented with vaccines. Vaccines can also protect you from severe illness and hospitalization should you get a virus. Have you received all the vaccines you can get? Learn what vaccines are recommended for children and adolescents as well as adults.
If you or your children need a particular vaccine, contact your healthcare provider or check with your local pharmacy. The Department of Public Health and Wellness also provides adult and children’s vaccines. Call 502-574-5380 to schedule an appointment.
From the Courier-Journal
Do you have the best burger recipe in town? It's time to put your culinary skills to the test in the Kentucky Derby Festival's annual Derby Burger Challenge, sponsored by the Kentucky Beef Council.
Now in its 11th year, the annual beef showdown is open to all chefs — from the home kitchen to restaurants. Aside from never-ending burger glory, the winning chef in this year's contest will receive a brand-new grill and accessories, a $100 gift certificate to Kroger and a lot of other great prizes. Click here for more information and to submit your recipe.
Louisville’s newest 18-hole disc golf course is now open to the public for play. It’s located at Champions Park at the former River Road Country Club site near the intersection of River Road and Zorn Avenue, approximately two miles from downtown Louisville.
As with the other Louisville Parks and Recreation disc golf courses, at Iroquois and Charlie Vettiner parks, play is first come, first serve. Disc golfers and park patrons alike are encouraged to be aware of all recreational usage in the park. Champions Park, which contains a gated dog run adjacent to the new course, is also a popular destination for dog walkers. Dog walkers at Champions, as in all local parks, are expected to have their animals leashed. Additionally, disc golfers are encouraged to be aware of pedestrians and to allow them the right-of-way as they’re walking through the course.
Please note that the 3rd hole on the course is closed until a hazardous tree can be removed from the vicinity. Golfers are urged to stay off the 3rd hole and use an abundance of caution when traveling between holes.
Ten years ago, the decommissioned railroad bridge hovering over the Ohio River in Waterfront Park was known as “the bridge to nowhere.” Today, the Big Four Bridge sees millions of visitors every year on foot and bike. Click here for more information about the yearlong celebration.
The Volunteen Program encourages teens to become engaged with their community by sharing hands-on Do Science opportunities with our guests that uphold the values of Kentucky Science Center. This year’s 8-week program runs from June 5th through July 28th. Applications close on Friday, March 31st. Click here to learn about program requirements, expectations, and more.
*Note: This class is specifically for caregivers only.
Louisville’s BIG Bourbon Club will pour up a presentation and tasting at Joe’s Older Than Dirt, 8131 New Lagrange Road, on Saturday, February 18 from 3-5pm. This month’s event will feature several expressions from Bardstown distillery Heaven Hill, including an exclusive release of the club’s Elijah Craig cask strength barrel pick. Click here for tickets.
From WHAS11-TV
A massive LEGO convention for fans of all ages will arrive in Louisville this summer. The Louisville Brick Convention will fill the Kentucky International Convention Center with tiny bricks, color and people on July 15 and 16.
Professional LEGO artists will come into Louisville from around the country to show off their amazing skills and complex creations. Fans can meet their favorite LEGO celebrities, including members of the cast of the TV show LEGO Masters, during meet-and-greets; get creative in the "Construction Zone" and enjoy galleries with life-sized LEGO models on display.
Tickets are now on sale and expected to sell out soon. A portion of the event's proceeds will go to "Creations for Charity", an organization that buys new LEGO sets for underprivileged children during the holidays.
Answers are at the bottom of this newsletter.
Metro Louisville now has an interactive map that will allow you to see what is happening in your neighborhood as well as others across the city. The map updates daily and if you choose you can receive alerts for your area by subscribing using the red receive alerts button on the page. Click here to try it out: Interactive Map to Track Crime.
Message from the LMPD 8th Division
Please make note of the below tips to help make sure theft doesn't happen to you.
- Never leave anything of value in your vehicle; this includes laptops, purses, GPS devices and even loose change.
- Do not leave your vehicle running while unattended.
- Always lock your vehicle doors.
- Remove garage door openers from vehicles when parked outside.
- Do not leave your keys in your vehicle, this includes key-fobs.
- Do not leave the windows of your vehicle open, or partially open.
- Try to park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
- Never leave a firearm unprotected in your vehicle.
- Immediately report any suspicious person, or vehicle to (502) 574-7111.
Stay aware of new development in your area! Sign up for Gov Delivery notifications at:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYLOUISVILLE/subscriber/new
On January 1, 2019, a new Comprehensive Plan, called Plan 2040, went into effect. As a resident of District 7 (or any district in Louisville), it is important to review the Comprehensive Plan if you are interested in development that is proposed for the neighborhood. The Comprehensive Plan is the guidepost for all development, and the Planning Commission must use it as one of the guiding principles and tools for making decisions regarding the approval or denial of a neighborhood development project.
Read The Comprehensive Plan (Plan 2040)
The Comprehensive Plan is representative of over 6,000 voices, including Metro staff, an advisory committee, and resident volunteers. The Advisory Committee, made up of diverse representatives from neighborhood and community organizations as well as development and business interests, finalized its recommended goals, objectives, and policies on February 21, 2018.
On April 16, 2018, the Planning Commission recommended the Comprehensive Plan for approval. The document was then reviewed by the Metro Council as well as 12 local municipalities with zoning authority for formal adoption. Those 12 local municipalities are: Anchorage, Douglass Hills, Graymoor-Devondale, Hurstbourne, Indian Hills, Jeffersontown, Lyndon, Middletown, Prospect, Shively, St. Matthews, and St. Regis Park.
Health experts recommend people living in high community-level counties to wear a mask indoors in public, stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if experiencing symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness.
If you test positive for COVID, but aren't sure what to do, call the LOU Health COVID-19 Helpline at 502-912-8598. The hotline is available Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and language translation services are available.
Subscribe to Louisville Metro's Covid-19 e-newsletter for the latest news!
Tossing those unwanted leftovers or unused ingredients into the trash doesn't just hurt your wallet - it also costs the climate. Over one-third of the food produced in the United States is never eaten, and food waste is the single most common material landfilled and incinerated across the nation. The USDA says the best way to reduce food waste "is to not create it in the first place." Click here for small steps you can take at the supermarket and in the kitchen to eat more sustainably - and creatively.
Monkeypox tends to spread through close contact with someone who is infected with the virus. It can spread through prolonged face-to-face contact and intimate physical contact such as kissing, cuddling or sex. The virus can also be spread through materials, like bedding, that has previously touched an infectious rash or bodily fluids.
Click here for more information: monkeypox
Louisville Metro Council livestreams all of its regular meetings and committee meetings on Facebook Live.
To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here.
The public can also view all council and committee meetings on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99. Proceedings are live streamed from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page here.
To watch the Council meeting and access the agenda and related attachments, click HERE.
Click Here to: View All Agencies
Click Here to Visit Website for Laws, State Legislators, Watch Bills, etc
Click here for more info.
District 7 Disclaimer: By taking part in District 7 events, you grant Councilwoman Paula McCraney full rights to use the images resulting from photograph/video filming. Councilwoman McCraney will have the right to any reproductions or adaptations of the images for inclusion in her e-Newsletter or other Council publications. This might include, but is not limited to, the right to use them in printed and online materials, social media and news releases.
If you do not wish to be photographed, please email the District 7 office at paula.mccraney@louisvilleky.gov prior to event attendance.
Answers to Valentine's Day Seek and Find:
The Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch are both part of the three branches of government that were put into place to separate powers. Both of these branches have specific and essential powers that they can do. The mayor is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the city. The mayor’s office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, and most public agencies. In addition, the mayor enforces all city and state laws within the community and is responsible for creating the city’s budget.
Regarding public safety, the Executive Branch comprises the mayor's office and the Louisville Metro Government, including the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD). The mayor, at any given time, can provide directives to the Chief of Police and LMPD staff without the permission of the Metro Council. Together, they are ultimately responsible for the public safety of our community.
About JCPS, the Metro Council nor the mayor's office has no jurisdiction or power to enact ordinances regarding JCPS, approve its budget, or mandate anything for the school board. The Jefferson County Board of Education is the school district’s policy-making body. Its powers and duties are set by state law. It is governed by an elected seven-member board that selects and hires the Superintendent, who serves as the school system’s CEO. The Board is responsible for educational planning and evaluation, staffing and appraisal, school facilities, financial resources, and communication. In addition, the Board acts as a court of appeal for staff members, students, and the public on issues involving board policy or implementing that policy. While the Superintendent of JCPS and the school board are not responsible for the public safety of Jefferson County, they do have a vested interest in working with safety officials to ensure schools are safe for our students, and the educational environment is free from the fear of violence and lawlessness by students, teachers, and other adults.
The Legislative powers of the city are vested in Louisville Metro Council, which is divided into 26 Council Districts that are defined by geographic boundaries with approximately 30,000 residents each. Metro Council is responsible for closing the gap between the services offered by the city and constituents’ needs, relating to street and sidewalk repairs, garbage pickup, code enforcement, sewer issues, public safety, fire protection, emergency management services, etc. In addition, Metro Council is responsible for enacting city ordinances (not in conflict with state laws) and approving the city budget presented by the mayor. In 2022 alone, the Council amended and approved a $1.3 billion fiscal year budget, considered the largest budget approved in city history. Contained in the budget was a general fund budget of nearly $210.5 million for LMPD, a $25 million increase over the $185 million allocation in 2022. In addition, the budget focused on infrastructure improvements, including roads, sidewalks, parks, and repaving. Metro Council also focused on public safety by appropriating more than $9 million for increased pay for LMPD, Metro Corrections, EMS, and Louisville Fire.
Other highlights of the amended budget included a proposed $2.9 Million for a pilot 9-1-1 Prioritization and Deflection Project, moving funds from LMPD to Emergency Services, which operates the 9-1-1 system. We also allocated $600,000 for a new “reconciliation” program to improve police-community relations and $1.5 million for the Jefferson County Attorney to fund legal services associated with the Department of Justice review of LMPD and Louisville Metro Government. Also, the Budget Committee, on which I serve, increased funding for human services with the largest appropriation of $279,400 to a human services program called “Another Way” that Goodwill Industries of Kentucky operates, funded $550,000 in Group Violence Intervention, $4.4 million in Pivot to Peace, and $1 million for the SummerWorks program. These are the contributions of the Metro Council to public safety - budget adjustments and approval. The execution and administration of ordinances and budgeted dollars rest squarely with the mayor’s office.
As your Council representative, I encourage you to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding your local government. My responsibility is to help you navigate through red tape, hold the Executive Branch accountable for executing public services to the best of their staff’s ability, and ensure that the government is working in your best interest. I also encourage you to contact Metro311 when you need a city service. If you cannot get satisfaction through Metro311, then, you should call my office for assistance. It is shameful that I would have to intervene to get the help you need, but sometimes it is necessary. You deserve good government, city services, and a responsive Metro Council representative. I want and offer nothing less for you!
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