Attached is the Clean Collaborative route update for last seven weeks. The Clean Collaborative Crew removed 1,804 bags of litter, 84 tires, and 358 other items from 593.24 curb miles and completed 21 service requests.
Since January 2024, the Clean Collaborative Crew has completed 228 service requests and removed 11,467 bags of litter, 610 tires, and 2,399 other items from 4,311.04 curb miles.
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.
Since taking office, my top focus has been on creating a safer community and improving the condition of our infrastructure. The infrastructure might not be the type of thing that gets a lot of attention, but it is one of the improvements we need most. Eight years ago, Metro Government was spending under $3M annually to pave our roads. This worked out to be about $100,000 per District annually or enough to do one medium sized road a year. That lack of funding led to deteriorating road conditions in all part of our city.
Fortunately, I and many of my Metro Council colleagues were able to work together to create a plan for addressing our paving needs. Today we are in the eight year of a ten year plan to increase the funding from under $3M to this year’s investment of $30M. The condition of our roads is better today than they have been in decades and this dedication to continued funding has led us to start additional campaigns to address sidewalk repair, and park maintenance.
Funding Sidewalk Connections, Extensions and Repair
Two years ago, I received a few requests for sidewalk extensions. After meeting with neighbors and neighborhood leaders, we began the process of identifying the costs and possibility of connecting major sections of sidewalks to improve the access between neighborhoods, parks and shopping.
WARD AVENUE: The first project completed occurred on Ward Avenue. This proposal was brought to my office by leaders within Owl Creek, and it proposed connecting Owl Creek as well as adjacent neighborhoods to a series of sidewalks already constructed in Anchorage along Old Harrods Creek Road. The project wasn’t easy as it included the preservation of a number of large trees and work on drainage issues. Now completed we are turning our attention to other potential extensions along both Ward, Old Harrods Creek and other streets that would improve people’s quality of life.
SHELBYVILLE ROAD: A project that is currently in progress is the installation of multiple sidewalk connections along a two-mile-long portion of the north side of Shelbyville Road. This project was brought to us by leaders within a few subdivisions. Each wanting to connect their residents to an already existing section of sidewalk along Shelbyville Road. After some research and work as a member of the Metro Council’s Budget Committee, I was able to secure funding that build on those initial requests and once completed will help bring a consistent walking path for someone wanting to walk along Shelbyville Road between Lyndon Lane past Hurstbourne Parkway nearly to the Wildwood Subdivision. A second large segment of sidewalk is also funded and expected to be installed that will expand access to Moser Road along the northern side of Shelbyville Road.
MOSER ROAD: The final large project that I was able to get funded will extend a sidewalk on Moser Road from its terminus until it reaches Watterson Trail. This sidewalk extension would help to get people closer to the Bluegrass Commerce Center as well as the 6’ wide trail that is already in place.
These improvements, as well as the planned repair of 53 sidewalks sections across District 18 are part of our plan to connect people and to find common sense ways to use tax dollars. It is my hope that next year we will be able to connect even more people through projects such as those listed above.
Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6 St. James Court
Back again for the 68th year, the St. James Court Art Show is only a couple of weeks away. Over 600 artists will participate in one of the nation's best outdoor art shows. This year, the St. James Court Art Show partnered with the Kentucky College of Art and Design to produce the official poster. Jada Lynn Dixon created the stylized image of the St. James Court fountain, Venus Rising from the Sea. Ms. Dixon said, "In essence, overall my work is driven by the belief that art is a vital force for bringing people together, offering comfort, and celebrating the richness of our diverse cultures." The St. James Court Art Show, with its celebration of creativity and community, perfectly embodies these ideals, and I am honored to contribute to this dialogue through my design." The poster will be on sale at the St. James Court Association's booth on the front lawn of the Conrad Caldwell House.
Louisville Free Public Library and the Louisville Orchestra are pleased to announce the fourth season of the collaborative project “Once Upon An Orchestra.” Public performances begin on Tuesday, October 1 at the Western Library and will tour to all LFPL locations through March 2025. The complete schedule is listed below.
Presented free, each branch will host one of six different, unique family programs that weave music and storytelling together in an interactive experience. Louisville Orchestra musicians perform original music created around familiar and beloved children’s books. The hour-long experiences include a 30-minute small ensemble performance preceded by a hands-on activity to build a musical instrument from recycled materials, so everyone can play along.
For “Once Upon An Orchestra,” composers from the LO Creators Corps have developed original musical scores to accompany a number of beloved children’s books, including Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In addition, this year’s series features two new composition – Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson.
The musically enhanced storytelling leans into one of the key programs of the LFPL, the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge. This Library program encourages all families and caregivers to read at least 1000 books with their preschool-age children to build the vocabulary and language skills needed for success in school.
Co-presented by the Louisville Orchestra and the Louisville Free Public Library, “Once Upon An Orchestra” is funded with support from Louisville Metro Government. For more information, including the complete schedule, please visit LFPL.org/orchestra, contact your local LFPL branch, or call the Louisville Orchestra at (502) 587-8681.
District 18 and local area locations:
Wednesday, October 9 10:30 AM Middletown Library The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Thursday, November 7 6:30 PM N.E. Regional Library If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Saturday, February 8 2:00 PM St. Matthews Library The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Saturday, March 29 10:30 AM Jeffersontown Library Bunny's Book Club
*For the complete schedule of event dates and locations go to the website listed above!*
Starting November 5, Kentucky households can apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Fall Subsidy. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through December 20, or until designated funds have been expended. Early Registration begins Oct. 14 for seniors and disabled folks. Stay tuned to this newsletter for more details.
Come work on Complete Streets in Louisville! Our team at Louisville Metro Public Works is hiring a Transportation Planner II to oversee the city's Complete Streets initiative! Looking for an exciting opportunity to change the way Louisville plans and builds? Then there may be a spot for you on our team! Check out the link below for more details.
Serve the Louisville community through a rewarding public service career! The Department of Metro Public Works & Assets is currently hiring for the following positions:
Transportation Systems Management & Operations/Engineering Supervisor
IMPORTANT! The link below is for all of Metro jobs currently open. To learn about career opportunities specifically in Public Works, once you've clicked the link, follow these 3 easy steps:
