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Louisville Metro Council will be on spring break March 27th through April 7th; however, City Hall and several District offices will be open. Your District 7 office will be open the entire time. I will periodically check and acknowledge receipt of your emails. If you need immediate attention, I will forward your email to my legislative assistant, Rhonda, and ask her to assist you.
Hello neighbors and friends,
Thank you to the District 7 residents who attended "Muffins with McCraney" last weekend at Topgolf. We had a great time discussing issues of the day and hearing from Deputy Mayor David James and Interim Police Chief Jacqueline Gwen Villaroel. We were also greeted by three of District 7's home rule mayors, who shared information about their respective cities and answered questions. Thank you, Mayor Brent Hagan, Lyndon; Mayor John Roberts, Windy Hills; and Mayor Richard Tonini, St. Matthews.
The next Muffins with McCraney will be in June. Details on the date, location, and featured guests will be announced in April. So, stay tuned!
Here are a few other things of interest I'd like to share:
1. We will be updating the Louisville Metro Government contact list and sending it out to each of you in the form of a magnet in May, along with a hard copy of a special newsletter.
2. Mayor Greenberg will present the city's budget to the Metro Council on April 27th. Once I've had an opportunity to review it, I will send out a survey to you to get your input on how you would like to see your tax dollars prioritized.
3. I attended a Codes and Regulations training session this week, conducted by the director of the department. Unfortunately, I didn't learn anything new. The department is understaffed, slow to respond to code violations regarding abandoned homes and cars, and the director offered no solutions for improving the foreclosure process (although, to be fair to him, that process does not rest solely on his shoulders; another Metro agency is responsible for foreclosures).
I am aware of three abandoned houses in District 7. Two of them have received several code violations but no attention from the homeowner. This is a clear indication that Codes and Regulations is not operating efficiently. It is not enough to respond to a complaint with several code violations; we need a department that is aggressive in contacting the homeowner and demanding the property be brought up to code or placed into foreclosure. One of the abandoned homes has been deteriorating for the last 10 years. I have worked diligently in my four years on Metro Council to get this property taken care of by the homeowner or put into foreclosure. It is finally (and unfortunately for the homeowner) in foreclosure and scheduled for auction on March 31st, at 12:50, in Jefferson Circuit Court, 700 W. Jefferson St. It should not take several years to get abandoned property taken care of! it's not good for the city, the homeowner, or the residents, whose property values may be affected by the oversight and neglect.
4. As stated at the top of this eNewsletter, Metro Council is on spring break from March 27th - April 7th. I will not be in the office during this time but will be accessible by email. If you need immediate attention, please call the office at 574-1107, and my capable assistant, Rhonda, will assist you. Her office hours are generally 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
5. During the spring break, an eNewsletter will be produced and sent. However, the "Message from McCraney" will be on vacation. As in previous years, my message will be in the form of one of my favorite poems or sayings.
We greeted the first day of the new season with the spring equinox on March 20th. Let us enjoy spring and its unique beauty with happy minds and open hearts and may spring visit your life with messages of peace and moments of pure happiness.
Happy Spring!
District 7 residents, please mark your calendar for March 29th, May 10th, June 28th, or July 19th to have a conversation with your local men and women in blue.
In honor of Women's History Month, the Women's Caucus of the Louisville Metro Council recognized the nine women who serve on Metro Council. Mayor Greenberg proclaimed March 23, 2023, as Women's History Month in honor of each Councilwoman, and First Lady Rachel Greenberg presented the proclamation.
The following phenomenal Councilwomen were recognized for their unwavering service to our community:
Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins (D-1)
Councilwoman Dr. Barbara Shanklin (D-2)
Councilwoman Donna Purvis (D-5)
Councilwoman Paula McCraney (D-7)
Councilwoman Cindi Fowler (D-14)
Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell (D-15)
Councilwoman Marilyn Parker (R-18)
Councilwoman Betsy Ruhe (D-21)
Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D-24)
Click here to view the program in its entirety:
Louisville Metro Council Women’s Caucus Recognition Program
Thank you to Kyle Ethridge, who served as the mistress of ceremony for the recognition event and issued press releases and other invitations for the event. Thank you also to Rhonda Caldwell, my legislative assistant, for producing the keepsake recognition booklet and programs for the event.
A very special THANK YOU to Hollie Hopkins, Assistant County Attorney with the County Attorney's Office, for serving as the presenter of the Councilwomen bios, and President Markus Winkler for attending and sharing inspirational closing remarks.
I also THANK and APPRECIATE former Councilwoman - now Deputy Mayor Barbara Sexton Smith, for delivering uplifting and motivational words of encouragement during the event. What a dynamic way to round out the event!
Last, but not least, I welcome and thank the new co-chair of the Women's Caucus, Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell. Together, we will host quarterly meetings that highlight women's issues and consider solutions that can contribute to the wellbeing and status of women.
The next Women's Caucus meeting will be on June 22. Join us on the Metro Council Women's Caucus Facebook page at 2:00 p.m.
Metro Council Committees met this week and adopted and discussed many issues.
The Planning and Zoning Committee approved several changes to zonings, including along Barret Avenue, St. Andrews Church Road and Spring Street, and forwarded a proposal with no recommendation on the Herr Lane Bull Run development, awaiting the decision of the City of Graymoor-Devondale.
The Labor and Economic Development Committee approved local incentives to PACCAR, a global technology leader in the design, manufacture, and customer support of trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF nameplates.
The Public Works Committee received the 2022 Vision Zero Louisville Annual Report and accepted property from the state for widening River Road.
The Public Safety Committee received testimony from Mayor Greenberg’s Chief of Staff David Kaplan on the U.S. Department of Justice findings on LMPD’s Pattern and Practices. It also approved a contract with Cure Violence Global.
The Community Affairs and Equity Committee approved contracts with the Louisville Recovery Community Connection for an overdose quick response team and to Norton Healthcare for the services of a Medical Director. The committee also heard an update from Dare to Care.
The Government Oversight and Audit Committee received testimony from Council Investigator David Beyers on his investigation of Metro Corrections. It approved appointments to the Criminal Justice Commission, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and Downtown Development Overlay District, and changed the board composition for the legacy Policemen’s Retirement Fund.
The Parks and Sustainability Committee approved a resolution urging LG&E to immediately cease legal efforts to seize conservation lands owned by Bernheim Forest, and instead divert funding to sustainable energy efforts. It also adopted a repair contract for the Zoo’s 1919 Carousel and heard testimony on two golf professional agreements for Sun Valley and Cherokee Golf Courses.
The Budget Committee approved ordinances helping to fund the Kentucky Shakespeare in the Park Summer Concert Series, the Riverview Independence Festival and Elderserve. It also approved an appropriation for the repair of a sidewalk in District 7 on The Meadow Road.
The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be held on Thursday, April 13th 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.
Building Permit Applications From 3/17/2023 to 3/23/2023:
| Permit ID |
Ap Type |
Address |
Contact Name |
Submit Date |
Total
Sq Ft |
Est Cost |
| RES-NEW-23-00295 |
Residential New |
1311 Ormsby Ln |
Brentwood Signature Homes |
3/19/2023 |
1182 |
120000 |
| COM-FND-23-00014 |
Commercial Foundation |
4800 Shelbyville Rd |
Tyrone Young |
3/20/2023 |
0 |
1 |
| COM-ALT-23-00178 |
Commercial Alteration |
7900 Shelbyville Rd |
LBM Construction |
3/20/2023 |
0 |
700000 |
| COM-NEW-23-00041 |
Commercial New |
4800 Shelbyville Rd |
KBA Inc., Architects |
3/22/2023 |
6689 |
4000000 |
| RES-ADD-23-00140 |
Residential Addition |
616 Harris Pl |
David Carmona |
3/23/2023 |
320 |
2500.00 |
New Applications:
22-ZONE-0073 - Bull Run Townhomes
Project Location: 1920 Herr Ln.
Project Description: Zone Change from R-4 to R-5A to allow a multifamily townhome community on 8.27 acres on property located at 1920 and 1922 Herr Lane, in the city of Greymore-Devondale.
23-CFR-0008 - Robinson Park
Project Location: 827 Lyndon Ln.
Project Description: A Community Facility Review to construct a parking lot for Robinson Park on 2.53 acres in the R-4 zoning.
22-LANDSCAPE-0147 - Islamic School of Louisville
Project Location: 8125 Old Westport Rd.
Project Description: A revised landscape plan for a proposed 11,838 square foot activity center on 5.95 acres in the R-4 zoning district.
Mike’s Carwash is taking over the former Frisch’s Big Boy on Shelbyville Road in St. Matthews, which closed in February. The car washing chain has 38 locations across Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana and plans to open this one later this year.
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Give A Day started as a one-day service opportunity in 2011. It grew from one day to two weeks and then was expanded to a full month in celebration of National Volunteer Month to allow non-profits and volunteers more time to plan and participate in service projects. This year’s Give A Day is a full month of giving, beginning April 1st through April 30th.
Individuals or groups wanting to find a project should visit mygiveaday.com, where projects and needs submitted by local non-profit agencies and other groups are listed. You may also use the website to report your own community service. For more information, contact Janice Cates.
The Department of Highways District 5 (KYTC) provides services to an eight-county area, including Bullitt, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties. In addition to the construction and maintenance of over 3,500 lane miles of state highways/interstates and 1,400 bridges/structures, District 5 staff coordinate all aspects of road development, from planning, design, right-of-way purchasing, and traffic signals to administering construction contracts. The District 5 office also performs highway maintenance, including pothole patching, mowing, and snow removal.
Pothole patching, sweeping, drain & ditch cleaning, striping, pavement marking, and maintenance crews may work on major interstates in the Louisville Metro area only during non-peak daytime hours and at night. Motorists should watch for roadside maintenance on interstates and highways daily throughout the district.
WORK ZONE TIPS
- Expect the unexpected.
- Slow down.
- Don’t tailgate. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you.
- Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the construction workers and equipment.
- Pay attention to the signs.
- Obey road crew flaggers.
- Stay alert and minimize distractions.
- Keep up with the traffic flow.
- Navigate traffic with GoKY or via Waze on your smartphone!
- You can follow us on the social media links below.
- Knowing where the construction zones are prior to the trip can minimize frustration and delays.
- Be patient and stay calm.
To learn more about KYTC or to report a hazard, click here.
Spring is a great time to clean out a garage or closet. But what do you do with those hard-to-dispose items? Use our Recycle Coach app to search specific items and find local information about recycling or drop-off locations. Here are 5 tips for spring cleaning:
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Make a pile of items that might be useful to someone else. Sell, donate, or offer to neighbors. Neighborhood apps and websites are a great way to get rid of things quickly - everybody loves free stuff! Most donation centers will recycle clothing and other textiles that can't sell. Check with your favorite location before throwing textiles in the garbage. If you still have loose, small items, place in your garbage or recycle if acceptable.
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Learn how to dispose of large items that don't fit in your garbage cart. Large items that aren't usable might just have to be thrown away. Contact your waste hauler about curbside collection. If you have city waste collection, you can schedule a pickup of up to 4 large items up to once per week. Residents can drop off up to 4 large household items at the Waste Reduction Center, 636 Meriwether Ave. Residents can also dispose of large items at a Pop-Up Drop-Off event.
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Recycle old electronics. You can recycle electronic waste at the Waste Reduction Center or at a Pop-Up Drop-Off event (limit 3). Some stores, like Staples or Best Buy, also recycle electronics.
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Dispose of household hazardous waste properly. Residents can drop off household hazardous waste for free at the HazBin, 7501 Grade Ln. Check the website for a list of accepted items, hours, and guidelines. Old unusable latex paint is not considered hazardous and should be dried out and placed in a sealed bag in your garbage.
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Don't wait till spring to get rid of the small stuff! Boxes and bags of small items are not accepted in the city's Large Item Pickup program. Donate or throw away items as needed so they don't pile up!
If you have questions about waste and recycling, contact the kNOw Waste Louisville education department!
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Brownsboro Hardware & Paint, located at 4858 Brownsboro Rd., will hold grill demonstrations on Saturday, April 1st from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Big Green Egg, Traeger, and Weber grills will be featured. Click here for more information. |
Join Bliss Home in Westport Village, 1315 Herr Ln., on March 30th from 6:30-8pm for a Modern Embroidery Workshop taught by Thistle & Thread Design. Expect to learn the basics of your new favorite craft as you work together step-by-step on an embroidery project. Click here for tickets and more information.
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Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, 6220 Old La Grange Rd., welcomes you to their gardens for Opening Day 2023 on Saturday, March 25th from 10am-4pm. Their traditional plant sale with hellebores and other spring ephemerals will start at 10am until they are gone, then afternoon tours of their grounds and gardens. Click here for tickets and more information.
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Click here to RSVP.
Kentucky Science Center's (727 W. Main St.) Pay by Day Spring Break Camp will take place March 31st, April 3rd-7th! In their pay by day camps your child will develop skills and make friendships that will last a lifetime. Their camp encourages all campers to play, tinker, and investigate the world around them with plenty of time to explore their favorite science center. Sign up for one day or the whole week - the choice is up to you! Click here for more information.
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April 1st marks the start of the Louisville Zoo’s annual celebration, Party for the Planet: A Month-Long Celebration of the Earth. The celebration features recycling partners every weekend in April and special discounted admission prices on Fun Day Mondays: April 10th, 17th and 24th. The celebration culminates on Sunday, April 30th when we observe Earth Day with $5 off on-site admission, free parking and eco-partner displays. Also featured at the event will be winning submissions from the Trashformation: A Trash-to-Treasure Art Contest, which has a special emphasis on pollinators this year. Click here for more information about all Earth Month activities.
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Looking for activities to keep kids and teens entertained during spring break that won’t break the bank? Check out the Louisville Free Public Library! With more than 100 free programs--interactive storytimes, puppet shows, crafts, scavenger hunts, STEAM activities, and more--LFPL can help combat spring break boredom for all ages. Spring Break at the Library runs April 1st-8th. Click here for the complete list.
Weekly deliveries will begin in May and signups are open now. Click here to learn more and to sign up. Click here to visit the website.
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:
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.
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 Below to Visit Website for Laws, State Legislators, Watch Bills, etc.
Click here for more info.
Click below to read the social media policy of the Louisville Metro Council:
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/louisville-metro-council-social-media-public-comment-policy.
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.
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