District 14 Councilwoman

and

Vice Chair of Democratic Caucus

Contact Cindi Fowler

Legislative Assistant

Amy Stewart

Office Locations:

CityHall
601 West Jefferson St.
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 574-1114

Southwest Government Center
7219 Dixie Highway
Louisville, KY 40258

2024 Committees:

Chair of Parks & Sustainability

Budget & Appropriations

Visit Councilwoman Fowler's website 

In This Edition...

• Volunteers Needed for D14 Clean Up Blitz
• Do You Need Help Preparing Your Taxes? VITA Can Help!
• Dixie Manor Redevelopment Update
• Louisville Water Company Warns of Scam
• Free Tax Service at SW Government Center
• TARC’s Operational Schedule Adherence Program Launched this Week.
• Mike Linnig's Restaurant Celebrates 100 Years of Business
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Winter Crisis Phase
• Mixed-Housing & Mixed-Use Development Priority Area Map Open House
• Two Public Hearings On the Schedule
• Black History Trivia at SW Library Feb. 8
• Valentine Bonfire/Hike at Jefferson Memorial Forest
• Cafe Louie Schedule, Councilwoman Fowler at SW Library on February 17
• Discounts Offered to Local Residents in February
• Make Dog Treats for a Local Shelter
• 18+ Invited to Party at SW Library
• Learn Tai Chi at the Library
• Lifeguard Training Opportunity
• Call for Vendors - Farmer's Market at Riverside
• Save the Date - March 23rd, Sign Up Today
• Career Opportunities with Louisville Metro Government
• Gun Violence Dashboard is Now Live
• Meals on Wheels
• Reporting Potholes
• Report a Litterer!
• How Can You Help with Illegal Dumping
• Southwest Community Ministries - Volunteers and Items Needed
• Meriweather Waste Reduction Center
• Contact Metro311

Volunteers Needed for D14 Clean Up Blitz

To sign up to volunteer, you can email Councilwoman Fowler by clicking here or by calling 502-574-1114.  Thank you for your help!

Do You Need Help Preparing Your Taxes? VITA Can Help!

VITA Hours at Sun Valley Community Center (6505 Bethany Lane):

Mondays from 12 pm - 6 pm

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am - 4 pm

For detailed information about the VITA Tax Program, click here.

In order to qualify, your household income should be $66,000 or less. 

Sun Valley Contact Number (502)653-7823

Dixie Manor Redevelopment Update

Louisville Water Company Warns of Scam

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

Free Tax Service at SW Government Center

Tax-Aide offers free tax preparation and electronic filing for all ages, with emphasis on lower to moderate income.

    Our site at Southwest Government Center will open Feb 1st.  We are open Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 am - 1pm, and operate by appointment.

New this season, Taxpayers can use our Online Scheduler to make their appointment. This is available at AARP-tax-aide-lou.org website, or AARP.org.

As always, Taxpayers can call and leave a message for an appointment on our Tax-Aide Southwest site phone number at 502-830-9925

What do I need to bring?
Government issued photo ID and social security records for all persons on the return
Taxpayers should bring the prior year tax return with all attachments and schedules.
All W-2’s and employment/unemployment statements and SSA-1099 if you received Social Security payments are
needed.
All 1099 forms (i.e. 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B and any brokerage statements) documentation of the date and price
of acquisition and sale of capital assets such as stocks, bonds will be required.
All 1099-Misc’s, 1099-R’s and all forms showing federal or state tax withholding
If claiming dependent care, bring information on the provider including name, EIN or SS, address and costs.
Complete written documentation for all items being claimed as itemized deductions including medical, interest, tax,
contributions, and other misc items.
Any other documents related to the tax return and ACA related forms and information.

TARC’s Operational Schedule Adherence Program Launched this Week.

On January 29 TARC debuted the Operational Schedule Adherence Program to improve on-time performance along Routes #4, #10, #23, and #28. When two buses along these lines bunch, the late bus may receive a call from the Control Center to switch to a "Drop Off Only" operation. The bus will no longer stop for pickups until it is told to switch back to standard running or as it drops off passengers. 

Passengers can be assured that when a bus switches to "Drop Off Only," the next bus is less than five minutes away. This little one-time delay will mean fewer extensive delays up and down the line.

TARC is implementing this program in response to feedback from our first annual Customer Experience Survey. On-time performance is noted as one of the most important elements of bus service to our customers, and one of the success factors our riders are currently least satisfied with. The Operational Schedule Adherence Program follows the successful pilot program focused only on #23.

For more information please visit https://www.ridetarc.org/tarc-launches-new-initiative-for-more-reliable-buses/

Mike Linnig's Restaurant Celebrates 100 Years of Business

Councilwoman Fowler joined the owners Nancy, Teresa and Bill and the awesome staff as they celebrated the 100th anniversary of serving the community. Through the years, the business evolved from a small roadside fruit and vegetable stand, enduring the 1937 flood, a major fire and two Linnig sons serving in the military, to the thriving famous seafood restaurant on the Ohio River in Southwest Louisville. Thank you Mike Linnig's!

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Winter Crisis Phase

The 2024 LIHEAP Winter Crisis Phase takes place now through March 29. 

Clients or their designated representative should allow for 30-60 minutes processing time and must stay to sign the completed application.

Applicants must be Jefferson County residents with a household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.  

Residents wishing to apply must schedule an appointment utilizing this online system or by calling our automated phone appointment system at 502-991-8391.

Eligible households can apply for one or both programs with one single appointment. The EWRAP program adds a discount to future Wastewater charges and the consent decree surcharge of the water bills. Again, this is only a discount towards future Water bills and there will be no money applied to the bill on the day of the application approval.

For the MSC EWRAP Discount Program, proof of an active utility account with the Louisville Water Company and MSD is required. This enrollment period is for new and renewing MSD discount program clients. However, if you have already enrolled in the Subsidy phase between October and December 2023, you will not need to apply again. They repeat, if you have already enrolled between October and December 2023, you will not need to apply again until next October 2024

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

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

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

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 us 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 – 3 PM at the Western Library (604 S. 10^th Street)
• 6 – 8 PM 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.

Two Public Hearings On the Schedule

4933 W Pages Lane, Change in Zoning to Add Apartments

9551 Brooks Bend Rd, Revised Plan to Add 40 Buildable Lots

Black History Trivia at SW Library Feb. 8

Valentine Bonfire/Hike at Jefferson Memorial Forest

Give your sweetie the moon, the stars, and a romantic treat by a warm bonfire! This year’s Valentine’s day hike at Jefferson Memorial Forest will include two options: a candlelit hike with hot chocolate for you and your partner or a candlelit hike leading to a private bonfire with a table for two and a s’mores kit. Click here for more details and to get tickets.

Cafe Louie Schedule, Councilwoman Fowler at SW Library on February 17

Discounts Offered to Local Residents in February

Celebrate Downtown Louisville and be a tourist in your own hometown! Residents of Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana are invited to celebrate their city and visit local tourist spots in their Downtown.

The Downtown Hometown Tourism Celebration will take place February 1-11, 2024, and will allow anyone with a valid Kentucky or Indiana ID, local college ID, or military ID to receive half-off a regular admission tickets to participating Downtown venues.

Whether it’s visiting a favorite museum, stopping by one of our local bourbon experiences, or celebrating what makes our community unique, our Downtown is packed with experiences that benefit both residents and visitors alike.

Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-purchase of admission is encouraged

PURCHASE TICKETS

Participating attractions and venues include Angel’s Envy Distillery, Buzzard’s Roost Whiskey Row Experience, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Frazier History Museum, Louisville Ballet, Muhammad Ali Center, SAR Genealogical Research Library, Slugger Museum & Factory, KMAC Museum, and the Waterfront Botanical Gardens.

Hotels also are participating with various discounts and package deals, offering a special static rate for the duration of the celebration. Hotels in the promotion include the AC Marriott, Hampton Inn Downtown, Hotel Genevieve, and the Myriad.

Make Dog Treats for a Local Shelter

18+ Invited to Party at SW Library

Learn Tai Chi at the Library

Lifeguard Training Opportunity

Call for Vendors - Farmer's Market at Riverside

Save the Date - March 23rd, Sign Up Today

We need your help! You can volunteer by signing up here.

Career Opportunities with Louisville Metro Government

Come work for Louisville Metro Government! You can search for all open positions and submit your application now. You can access career opportunities by clicking here.

Louisville Metro Government is committed to providing our employees with the tools they need to lead a fit and healthy life. Aside from community-wide initiatives like the Mayor’s Hike, Bike and Paddle event every Memorial Day and Labor Day, and the Healthy Hometown Movement, Metro Government provides employees with programs designed to enhance their life and well-being, like a Wellness Center that allows employees and their dependents with Metro health insurance to take care of their basic medical and health needs for a $5 co-pay. Louisville Metro Government understands that a team of healthy, vibrant employees is the greatest asset we have.

Note: For assistance with the application process, please contact the NEOGOV Customer Support Help Desk at (855) 524-5627 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

Gun Violence Dashboard is Now Live

The city’s new “Metro Gun Violence Dashboard” is now live on OSHN’s Louisvilleky.gov website.

The dashboard is a real-time, comprehensive reporting tool that will expand government transparency and will aim to create more collaborative work opportunities with and within the Louisville community.

The dashboard is a collaborative project between OSHN and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and was funded with a $100,000 competitive grant from the national Everytown for Safety Support Fund.

The dashboard will use data from Mark 43, LMPD’s record management system and will show a variety of reporting elements. For example, it will show maps and trends on where shots are fired, where homicides and non-fatal shootings happen, literal neighborhood and block reports, and historic, comparative, and detailed data starting from the year 2010.

It will give anonymized information on victims of gun violence, trend reports and provides an array of measurements, including, for example, what is shown as the likeliest or most common times and/or days for violence.

Visit the LIVE Dashboard Here!

Meals on Wheels

Reporting Potholes

We need your help reporting potholes, use one of the methods below; Use an online form by clicking here. Use Twitter by sending the location of the hole to @LouMetro311 and include the hashtag #502pothole. Call Metro311 or 574-5000 to report potholes or any other issues. Call our office at 574-1114, and we'll turn it in on your behalf. 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.

Report a Litterer!

Get directly involved in making Louisville a more litter-free community through the Report-A-Litterer program aimed at motorists who throw fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts, soda bottles or any type of litter out their car window.  Click here to report. Click here for more information

How Can You Help with Illegal Dumping

Illegally dumped trash is more than just an eyesore! It is expensive to clean up, it negatively impacts our quality of life and economic development, and the plastic debris may end up in our waterways and oceans. Individuals caught dumping illegally may have their vehicle impounded and face fines and fees totaling about $1,000.  We have recently posted images on social media asking for help identifying illegal dumpers caught on camera and reporting when a vehicle was impounded. WDRB also helped spread the word about the negative impacts of illegal dumping. View their story here.  Residents are encouraged to fill out this online form if they witness illegal dumping. The form can also be used to share home security camera footage or images of illegal dumping occurring with our Solid Waste Enforcement Department. Go to Louisvilleky.gov/IllegalDumping to learn more about how you can help prevent illegal dumping.  Did you know..? Many waste materials can be dropped off legally and for FREE. Up to three large household items, up to 4 passenger tires, and up to 3 electronics items can be dropped off for free at the at the Waste Reduction Center, located at 636 Meriwether Avenue. A pickup truckload of yard waste or construction debris can be disposed for only $60.00. Residents can also utilize the free Pop-Up Drop-Off events that occur monthly, on a Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., March - November, in various parts of Jefferson County. Items must be separated into the various categories for easy off-loading. Know before you go! View the accepted items list here: Louisvilleky.gov/PopUps.

Southwest Community Ministries - Volunteers and Items Needed

Southwest Community Ministries is currently in need of volunteers to serve on committees, volunteers in the Pantry for food pickups on Mondays, and Drivers to deliver Meals on Wheels on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Please call Sarah at (502)935-0310 if you are interested in helping the community outreach organization. In addition, the ministries always needs these items to stock their pantry: Toilet Paper Deodorant Soups Ravioli Ramen Noodles Items can be dropped off at the Ministry (8504 Terry Rd.) Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For more information please call (502) 935-0310. Donations can also be made by visiting  SouthwestCommunityMinistries.org/donate.

Meriweather Waste Reduction Center

At the Waste Reduction Center, Louisville/Jefferson County residents can dispose of tires, household bulky waste such as metals, appliances, electronics, tree limbs and stumps up to three feet in diameter, unbagged yard waste, construction debris, and furniture.

Hours of Operation

Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Appointments available Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Up to three household bulky items per day may be dropped off at no charge. Bulky loads or drop-offs exceeding three items will be charged according  - CASH ONLY.  

Examples of single items

• Up to 4 passenger tires*
• One appliance
• One large household item such as mattress, box spring, sofa or chair

*No more than 4 tires will be accepted for free drop-off at one time regardless of the number of other items