Café LOUIE 2024

9:00 am - 10:00 am Saturday mornings

Attend Café LOUIE - an informal gathering of civic-minded individuals interested in meeting with their elected officials to discuss local issues at libraries all across town.  Participants will be offered refreshments and conversation.  The focus of these meetings is engagement through personal conversations, and they are open to the public.

Councilman Blackwell is scheduled to attend the February 17 event at the Southwest Regional Library and March 16 at the Shively Library. 

Community Open House: Mixed-Housing & Mixed-Use Development Priority Area Map

Louisville Metro’s Office of Planning invites you to attend a community open house to present and discuss a draft of the Mixed-Housing & Mixed-Use Development Priority Area Map. Two opportunities to participate are available. Join them at either location on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 to review the map, learn more about the project, talk with city planners, and provide feedback!

FEBRUARY 7, 2024

• 1:00 – 3:00PM at the Western Library (604 S. 10^th Street)
• 6:00 – 8:00PM at the Newburg Library (4800 Exeter Ave)

What is the Mixed-Housing & Mixed-Use Development Priority Area Map?

The Office of Planning is working with national planning and urban design firm Opticos Design to create this priority land use map. As Louisville Metro strives to increase housing choice and opportunity, this map will further assist in guiding the location of mixed-use and mixed-housing developments across all communities.

This project is part of the ongoing LDC Reform process. To learn more, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/ldcreform or contact ldcreform@louisvillky.gov.

HEADLINES

Dixie Manor Redevelopment Update

Amnesty Period for People with an Active Bench Warrant

Deadline to apply is February 2 - scan the QR code above or visit LouisvilleProsecutors.org/Redocket to apply

Clearing bench warrants and giving people the opportunity to close their cases will reduce incarceration and save lives. Bench warrants are typically issued after a person does not appear for a scheduled court appearance or does not pay fines, fees, or restitution.

Many people miss court dates because of barriers to transportation, childcare, time off work, and more. When a person has an active bench warrant, police are authorized to arrest them if they come into contact with the person. That means getting pulled over for speeding could lead to an arrest and incarceration. 

On a personal level, this amnesty period will allow people with certain active bench warrants to reschedule their hearings and close their case. This will allow them to live without the threat of immediate arrest should they encounter law enforcement. On a broader scale, clearing these bench warrants will reduce incarceration rates and alleviate deadly overcrowding in jails.

Heads up Louisville Water customers! The Louisville Water Company is warning customers about a scam that is going around the city right now. These door tags are showing up at homes claiming to provide a community water update. We want to let you know this has nothing to do with Louisville Water. You can always learn more about your water quality here: bit.ly/4bje5BI

The Louisville Free Public Library celebrates Black History Month with programs throughout February  This February, the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) is offering more than fifty free programs in celebration of Black History Month. Programs include book discussions, film screenings, history talks, storytimes, art activities, and more, designed to inform, inspire, and engage audiences of all ages. At libraries around the city, a number of authors, professors, local experts, and performers will explore aspects of Black history often overlooked. The Main Library welcomes Peabody Award-winning journalist Michele Norris to discuss her newest book Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity on Friday, February 16 (7 p.m.). Her book draws on a narrative archive Norris founded using a simple prompt for people to reflect on race in only six words – a prompt that was answered by more than half a million people. This free event is presented by Carmichael’s Bookstore will feature Norris in-conversation with former Kentucky State Representative Charles Booker. Register online at www.LFPL.org/Authors, or call (502) 574-1623. Local Black History is also front and center this year. On Tuesday, February 20 (6:30 p.m.) at the Main Library, UofL English professor Dr. David Anderson will examine the social contributions and literary legacies of three prominent Black educators in Louisville at the beginning of the twentieth century: Joseph Seamon Cotter, Sr., Nannie Helen Burroughs, and George Marion McClellan. Register online at www.LFPL.org/MyLibraryU. Members of the Chickasaw Book Project will share their stories about life in the Chickasaw neighborhood during the 1940s-70s at the Shawnee Library (Saturday, February 10, 1:30 p.m.).  At the Bon Air Library, National Park Rangers will enlighten patrons with the story of Stephen Bishop, an enslaved cave guide who was one of the first people to map Mammoth Cave (Thursday, February 1, 6 p.m.). At the South Central Regional Library, the KY Humanities Council offers a multimedia presentation about the Underground Railroad in Kentucky (Saturday, February 3, 2 p.m.). Also at South Central, Chautauqua performer Elizabeth Lawson will bring Charlotte Dupuy, the enslaved woman who sued Henry Clay for freedom, to life (Saturday, February 17, 2 p.m.). Get moving in the Library with a celebration of the legacy of Simmons College with a special performance from Satin Rhythm Dance Team and the Stick Control Drum Corps (Saturday, February 3, 2 p.m., Southwest Regional Library) and at a special concert with The Ron Jones Quartet who will bring the music of Julian “Cannonball” Adderley to the Shawnee Library (Saturday, February 24, 1 p.m.). February also marks the return of the Black History Month Film Series. Presented in partnership with UofL Health Sciences Center Office of Diversity and Inclusion, with support from Louisville Public Media and Lean Into Louisville, the series is held every Sunday in February at the Main Library and features thought-provoking and award-winning films, followed by discussions with university professors and local experts. The 2024 lineup features the film Maya Angelou – And Still I Rise, a double-bill of documentaries looking at Black health, The Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution and The Deadliest Disease in America, the new biographical drama Rustin, and the blockbuster hit Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. To register for this free series, visit www.LFPL.org/BHFilms. Teen Librarians have also programed a series of Black History films curated just for teens ages 13-19, screening every Wednesday night in the Teen Underground at the Main Library. Black History Month at the Library has something for all ages, with special storytimes, craft sessions, and showcases for children and teens as well. The popular Black Superhero Showcase moves to the Shawnee Library on Saturday, February 3, at 2 p.m. and cartoonist Randy Gray gives a lesson on visual storytelling and how to make a comic book for kids in grades 3-6 (Monday, February 19, 2 p.m., register at [502] 964-3515). For the complete list of LFPL’s Black History Month programs, please visit www.LFPL.org/BlackHistory.

February Discounts  Downtown is everyone’s neighborhood! Where else can you go to a basketball, soccer, baseball, or volleyball game, catch a Broadway show or concert, eat and drink top-notch food and beverage, or visit any of the 30 amazing attractions that showcase our culture and diversity? Louisville’s downtown has so much to do, you can build a day or a weekend of being a hometown tourist… check out the Downtown Hometown Tourist Celebration taking place Feb. 1-11 in participating attractions and hotels. Small businesses also are getting some more love with an expanded Small Business Loan through the Downtown Commercial Loan Fund. The loan is designed to help overcome gaps in funding for existing or new small businesses interested in relocating to or expanding their footprint in the Downtown area with improvements or upgrades to their current ground-floor retail spaces. Visit here to learn more. Contact Louisville Downtown Partnership for more information, at 584-6000.

Free Tax Preparation

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program Offers Free Tax Help 

The Louisville Asset Building Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides trained, IRS-certified volunteers who offer free tax services at 15 sites across the city. VITA is available to individuals and families who earned less than $66,000 in 2023.

Eligible Louisville residents can make an appointment to visit these VITA sites for in-person free tax filing. Most sites use convenient drop-off services.

• Americana Community Center, 4801 Southside Dr.
• Bates, 728 East Lampton St.
• Edison Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Ste 201
• Family Scholar House U of L, 403 Reg Smith Circle
• Family Scholar House Riverport, 3311 Cathe Dykstra Way
• Goodwill Resource Center, 909 E. Broadway
• Louisville Urban League, 1535 W. Broadway
• Oldham County LaGrange Library, 308 Yager Avenue (LaGrange)
• Portland Promise Center, 1831 Baird St.
• Shively City Hall, 3920 Dixie Hwy.
• St. Vincent de Paul Family Success Center, 1029 S Preston Hwy.
• Sun Valley Community Center, 6505 Bethany Lane
• United Crescent Hill Ministries, 150 State St.
• Wesley House Community Services, 5114 Preston Hwy.
• Various mobile locations around the city (check www.labcservices.org for sites) 

To schedule an appointment for in-person tax assistance, call 502-305-0005 or visit https://louisvillekyvita.cascheduler.com. For more details, including days and hours of drop off services, visit https://labcservices.org/.

Free tax preparation kicks off in 2024 with the annual “Taxathon” event which offers 24-hours of free tax preparation at the Louisville Urban League. The Taxathon event runs Friday, February 2nd, from 9am to 9pm, and Saturday, February 3rd, from 9am to 9pm. Filers can walk in during these times for free tax preparation services.

Residents can also choose to have their taxes prepared at MyFreeTaxes.com, which provides a free self-file program offered in partnership by United Way Worldwide and TaxSlayer.

AARP Tax-Aide also provides free tax prep services, with special attention to people age 60 and older. AARP Tax-Aide sites will begin operating at eight sites in early February. For more information, visit http://www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org.

KROGER, METRO GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE ‘PHASE TWO’ OF COLLABORATION

A partnership between The Kroger Company and Louisville Metro Government will now offer free financial empowerment services to customers inside select Kroger grocery stores.

The two organizations, along with Dare to Care Food Bank, launched the Kroger and Bank On Louisville Food and Financial Access Program last July, supplying on-site outreach for customers of Kroger’s Mobile Market, which travels neighborhoods that have limited access to food retail.

Kroger’s Mobile Market is a small grocery store on wheels that visits neighborhoods with limited access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods. Mobile Market customers can board the vehicle to shop for fresh produce and staple food items, and they can pay by debit card, credit card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT).

Financial empowerment services and information available at Kroger Mobile Market sites include:

• Free financial counseling from the Louisville Financial Empowerment Center
• Free tax preparation services from the Volunteer Income Tax Program (VITA)
• Access to Bank On Louisville’s certified banking products across 10 financial institutions in the Louisville market
• Free financial coaching and counseling for people with disabilities 

Now those same financial services will be offered beginning inside five Kroger grocery stores:

• 2710 W. Broadway
• 520 N. 35th St.
• 3165 S. 2nd St.
• 4211 S. 3rd St.
• 10645 Dixie Hwy.

This “Phase Two” of the program will last for the next few months, ending in April or May, depending on weather. Then, the third and final phase of the program year will resume the mobile operation during the summer. 

Officials with Dare to Care, Kroger and Metro Government hope to continue the success they have seen with the Mobile Market sites. 

More details can be found at: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services/office-financial-empowerment 

In late 2023, Louisville Metro Government won a $1 million EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to create a Climate Action Plan for the entire Louisville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), including 11 counties in Kentucky and Indiana. As part of this:

• We are required to submit a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) by March 1, 2024
• We are eligible to apply for implementation grants (in the range of $2 million to $500 million) to implement the priorities identified in the PCAP. The implementation grant deadline is April 1, 2024.

Please share your sustainability priorities for the region by taking this Regional Climate Action Plan Survey by January 31, 2024. We have collected 550+ responses so far – our goal is to reach 1,000 participants by January 31! We will continue to keep the survey open through April, but feedback received by January 31 will more strongly influence our Priority Climate Action Plan. Responses before January 31 will also be eligible to enter a raffle and win sustainability swag! To learn more, please keep an eye out for public meetings in February. Meeting details will be published on: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/sustainability/climate-action-and-resilience-plans

Survey link: https://louisville.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dmYa3jp8EKAZU3A

Potholes! And What to do About Them

Potholes are showing up everywhere! Why is that and how do they get fixed?

Potholes are caused by water seeping into the cracks of asphalt. This is caused by water getting into surface cracks caused by a weakened asphalt. Winter in the Metro Louisville area can be brutal with the constant amount of rain and snow that we have in the area. If the asphalt is already weakened, then the pothole is inevitable. Potholes are hard on our cars!

The good news? This is one of the easiest things to get fixed! How do you do that?

Report it! Be sure to give the exact location.

• Report it by calling Metro311 or 574-5000 or complete a form online here.
• You can also report by using the Metro Call App! The link to download the app can be found here. 
• You may also give our office a call at 502-574-1112 or email Heather.Blazis@louisvilleky.gov and we will submit it for you. 

Don’t forget to write down and keep the 311 case number when you call. That gives us a way to track the process.

We have requested several pothole repairs in the last year and Public Works has done an amazing job of getting them fixed. Let’s make sure we continue to do that! Report it as soon as you see it! Let’s get them scheduled! Working together we will make sure that we take care of these as quickly as possible!

To report a pothole on an interstate in Jefferson County, go to the “contact us” dropdown menu and select “report a hazard” on KYTC’s website http://transportation.ky.gov or click here.

24-ZONE-0009

Project Location: 6801 Dixie Highway

Project Description: Dixie Legacy Center. A change in zoning from C1 to CM for 3.67 acres of 23.70 acres parcel for use as contractor's shop/flex space. 

24-VARIANCE-0010

Project Location: 6305 Oak Valley Drive

Project Description: 6305 Oak Valley Dr Garage. A variance to encroach into the side yard setback on .71 acres in the R4 zoning district.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Free lifeguard training offered to future Louisville Parks and Recreation employees

Louisville Parks and Recreation is now hiring lifeguards for the 2024 swim season. Certification classes have begun at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Avenue.

Each class costs $200 to take but is free if participants commit to working one year at a Louisville Parks and Recreation pool. Participants must be at least 15 years of age or older. The course will provide lifeguard, first aid and CPR/AED certifications. The purpose is to teach candidates the skills needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies, ultimately working together to help the public safely enjoy the water.

Lifeguards will have the opportunity to work at the outdoor pools in Sun Valley and Nelson Hornback (Fairdale) parks as well as the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center. The outdoor pools at Algonquin and Camp Taylor (Norton) parks will be closed during summer 2024 but are expected to reopen the following year with new renovations and water features.

Participants must attend all classes to complete the course and receive certifications. The starting pay for the position of a Louisville Parks and Recreation lifeguard is $16.65/hour with a guarantee of 36-40 hours per week.

Those interested can call Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center at (502) 574-1498 or click here to learn more about lifeguard training.

Below please find MSD's recently posted positions. For position descriptions, pay information, and to apply please visit their website: http://www.louisvillemsd.org/Careers Buyer II  GIS Analyst I/II/III/Sr.  Collections System Supervisor (Maintenance Supervisor) Network Engineer II/III  Facilities Maintenance Technician  Health & Safety Program Manager Maintenance Mechanic I/II/III

Employment with Louisville Parks and Recreation is a great opportunity to connect with nature and the community! We have employment opportunities throughout each division (aquatics, recreation, golf, community engagement, Jefferson Memorial Forest) for both full-time and part-time positions. 

Visit bestparksever.com for more information on employment opportunities! 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Find a rewarding career! Serve the Louisville community! 

Join the PW - A Team!!

Apply today! 

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