I am very much looking forward to the winter sun coming out from behind the clouds and ushering in the return of some more seasonal temperatures. The last three weeks of sub-freezing temperatures on the heels of two impactful snow events have taken their toll on all of us. Many secondary streets remain ice covered, and sidewalks and parking lots are icy or covered with mountains of brown snow. Trash and recycling pickup have been delayed or cancelled more often than not and Solid Waste Management is just now getting back to a more normal schedule.

As a reminder to those of us who have forgotten, the average high temperature in Louisville in early January is in the low 40’s. We have had precious few days in 2025 where the high temperature has gotten above freezing and even fewer that have reached our average.

Simply put, this type of weather pattern; a major snow event followed by weeks of sub-freezing temperatures occurs very rarely in Louisville. I certainly remember the blizzard of 1978 when we were buried under a foot of snow and JCPS was cancelled for what seemed like weeks at a time. I remember when the Ohio River was frozen solid, I believe in both 1994 and 1998. And finally I remember another year in the early 2000’s when as many water lines froze and broke as those that didn’t (the exact date of which I must have conveniently scrubbed from memory), and now we can add 2025 to the list. Surely there are others, but those are the years that stand out for me.

Many of you have heard me say that I don’t believe it would be a prudent use of limited tax dollars for Metro Government to invest in the equipment that would prepare us to more adequately respond to this type of winter event. The likelihood that the equipment would sit in a garage and rust prior to the next time we actually needed it is simply too great. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t thoroughly review all of our policies, procedures, contingencies, and partnerships related to snow events, to learn from 2025 and make sure we improve the efficacy and efficiency of our operation going forward. I know the Administration has committed to doing that and my colleagues on Metro Council are eager to do that as well.

Finally, as many of you already know, this interminable winter weather has further delayed progress on the Cannons Lane sidewalk project. I have spoken to many of you about this project and have relayed that the contractor has encountered numerous unforeseen obstacles during construction, which have delayed completion. The most significant of these obstacles was the discovery of abandoned underground utility infrastructure that had to be removed prior to moving the project forward. And now, since concrete can only be poured and allowed to cure above a certain temperature, the weather has brought progress to a screeching halt. I apologize for the delays. I have asked the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Metro Public Works and the contractor to reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so, even if that means the asphalt isn’t fully resurfaced and striped until warmer temperatures arrive in the spring. My office will provide additional updates on the projected timeframe for reopening the road as soon as the weather improves and the contractor can resume work. All of those involved in the project from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Metro Public Works and the members of my office, we appreciate your continued patience.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Louisville Metro Government have released a new framework, outlining the steps necessary to create Louisville’s first Safe Routes to School program. Communities across the country offer Safe Routes to School programs to promote safe walking and cycling conditions for elementary, middle, and high school students. The programs encourage active lifestyles and bridge the gap between health and transportation.

The framework was developed to support Vision Zero Louisville, the city’s transportation safety initiative, which envisions zero roadway deaths by 2050. Studies show that Safe Routes to School programs can reduce risk of pedestrian injury and increase physical activity. A Safe Routes to School program would also provide benefits to the community at-large, including reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. It also promotes savings on fuel costs for families and reduces the demand on school bus fleets.

In addition to this framework, the project team conducted road safety assessments near ten schools in Jefferson County, and KYTC is already turning those findings into infrastructure improvements. “Safety is urgent, and it is our top priority. We are committed to working with our local partners to provide safe and accessible routes for children to get to school, fostering a healthier and brighter future for the next generation,” said Mike Vaughn, manager of KYTC’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, which funded the project.

Launching Louisville’s first Safe Routes to School program will require dedicated investments of time, funding, and participation from local and state agencies, schools, and members of the community. The new framework lays the foundation for identifying supportive roles from champions and community members, strengthening policy, and implementing the program.

For more information, please visit the Safe Routes to School Louisville website at LouisvilleSafeRoutesToSchool.com. Click the link for more information. louisvillesaferoutestoschool.com/

On January 17, 2025, Louisville Metro Solid Waste Officers, with help from a concerned citizen and MSD Safety and Security Investigators, successfully located and impounded a truck involved in illegal dumping near Frankfort Avenue and Stoeckler Avenue next to the floodwall. The owner admitted to the dumping and was fined $500, plus $250 in cleanup fees and $250 in impoundment fees. They can retrieve their vehicle in 72 hours after paying the fines and fees.

Did you know..? Many items that are illegally dumped could have been dropped off for free at the Waste Reduction Center on Meriwether Avenue or at one of our Pop-Up Drop-Off events. And even when the debris does not qualify for free disposal, the cost to dispose may be as low as $60.00 

📸 Report Illegal Dumping: Residents and businesses with video or photo evidence of illegal dumping can anonymously report it at the Louisville Metro website: Louisvilleky.gov/IllegalDumping . Check out images of past impoundments and vehicles we're searching for!

👏 Thank You to our vigilant citizen and MSD investigators for another successful impound!

#Louisville #IllegalDumping #CommunitySafety #KeepLouisvilleClean

When it's time to take down your holiday decorations, be sure to compost any live greenery or trees! 

Metro Solid Waste will provide curbside pickup of Christmas trees within the Urban Services District after the holiday. Residents with city yard waste collection may set their Christmas trees and greenery out on their regular collection day. Trees may not be in plastic bags and all decorations must be removed. 

Residents normally serviced by private waste haulers should check with those companies to see if and when tree pickup is available.

Starting Thursday, December 26, Christmas tree drop-off sites will be available for all Louisville/Jefferson County residents at three locations. The Hubbards Lane site will also instantly recycle Christmas trees into mulch that will be offered back to citizens for home use. Those wishing to receive mulch must bring an appropriate container in which to carry it. All lights and ornaments should be removed from trees before they are dropped off. Christmas tree vendors may recycle their unsold trees on Thursday, December 26 only, and only at the Hubbards Lane site.

HOURS & LOCATIONS

December 26 - January 25

Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Waste Reduction Center closes at 3 p.m. on Saturdays)

All locations will be closed on New Year's Day and Saturday, January 18 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 

• East District Recycling Center, 595 N. Hubbards Lane
• Public Works Yard, 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane)
• Waste Reduction Center, 636 Meriwether Avenue 

Here are some tips to help you avoid the most common mistakes our crews see during waste collection in the Urban Services District.

Garbage:

• Bring in your garbage cart after collection! This helps keep it from being stolen, damaged, and helps reduce litter, especially in alleys.
• Garbage should always be inside your cart with the lid closed. If your cart is damaged, request a free repair! (Choose "Waste Container Request")

Recycling:

• Styrofoam and plastic shopping bags are NOT accepted in Louisville's recycling programs. Review our list of accepted items or search any item on our Recycle Coach app.
• Keep your items loose and not bagged. Flatten cardboard and crush containers to conserve space in your cart. 

Yard Waste

• The Yard Waste Winter Schedule begins February 3 - until mid-March it will only be collected on the opposite week of recycling. 
• Learn more about what's accepted and how to bundle the material.

Large Item Pickup:

• Curbside collection is for LARGE household items only - with the exception of appliances with Freon and televisions. (Those can be dropped off for free at the Waste Reduction Center.)
• Schedule an appointment for up to 4 large household items to be collected. 
• Small items, even if they are bagged or boxed, are NOT allowed. Donate items or place in the garbage instead.

The kNOw Waste Louisville Education Team is here to help! If you have questions about what's acceptable, guidelines, or other waste-related information, contact us. 

Residents serviced by private companies should check with those companies for container requests and large item collection information.

Recently, naloxboxes were installed outside all 21 Louisville Fire stations and at the fire department in Shively, giving people access to naloxone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, is an opioid overdose reversal medication that saves lives.

“This is an effort to prevent overdose deaths because someone who has died from an overdose doesn’t have the chance to recover, get healthy and live a stable life,” said Cillian Browne, community health supervisor at the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. “We want anyone who thinks they may witness an overdose, or be in an overdose situation, to have Narcan readily available to use.”

According to Kentucky’s Drug Overdose Fatality Report, nearly 500 Jefferson County residents died from a drug overdose in 2023.

“Not only are we in the emergency response business, but we are also in the prevention business,” said Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill. “Our firefighters are also emergency medical technicians. As a new firefighter, you are far more likely to be administering Narcan before you actually drag a hose line into a house fire. It’s a terrible problem that knows no boundaries. Everyone is susceptible to opioid addiction and we want to make sure we are there, with no judgement, to try to help as many people as we can.”

To date, there are now more than 100 naloxbox locations across Louisville Metro. This effort is made possible through funding from Vital Strategies and the Kentucky Overdose Response Effort (KORE).

A listing of publicly available naloxboxes in Jefferson County and around the state can be found on FindNaloxoneNowKy.org.

To learn more about naloxboxes that are now installed at Louisville Fire stations, watch this interview on WAVE Listens LIVE!.

If you or someone you know is facing challenges with substance use, remember that you are not alone. For more information, please call (502) 551-8590.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Winter Crisis enrollment is now available for eligible Kentucky households through Kentucky’s Community Action Network. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis through March 31 or until designated funds have been expended.

The program is designed to assist eligible households experiencing a home heating crisis across various fuel types, including electric, natural gas, propane, coal, wood, and fuel oil.

Applications will be accepted during the enrollment period, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Income eligibility for the program is up to and including 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Eligible households can apply for a benefit that covers the minimum needed to alleviate the crisis, up to the maximum benefit. Households can reapply each time they experience a crisis until they reach their maximum benefit. The benefits are paid directly to the household's fuel vendor.

Interested households should contact their local Community Action Agency office to apply. Applicants will need to provide the following documentation:

• Proof of Social Security Number or permanent residence (green card) for each member of the household.
• Proof of all household’s (all members) income from the preceding month.
• Most current electric bill, statement from your landlord if electric is included in your rent, statement from utility company if you participate in a pre-Pay electric program.
• The account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric bill.

Applicants requesting assistance for natural gas or electric must bring a disconnect/past due notice (example: past due notice, termination notice, final notice, or utility arrearage payment plan balance). If your rent includes heat, you must bring a copy of your lease and eviction notice. Applicants who participate in a Pre-Pay Electric Program must bring a statement from the utility company that shows they have 10 days or less of pre-paid electric service.

Assistance received during previous LIHEAP components does not affect household’s eligibility. Applicants can make an appointment online or call (502) 574-5000. 

Community Action Kentucky administers LIHEAP in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services who receive the funding as a pass-through block grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Whitehall is pleased to announce that it will host an Orchid Re-potting Workshop on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. as part of its Whitehall Wednesday series. Whether your orchid has outgrown its pot, needs a fresh start with new growth media, or you’re simply ready to learn to care for it like a pro, this workshop is for you. Together, participants will explore the how and why of re-potting—an essential step to keep your orchid thriving. Instructor Javier Rodriguez will guide students through the process every step of the way. Bring your own orchid, pot, potting mix, scissors, questions, and excitement; leave with a freshly potted plant and new confidence as an orchid parent. The cost is $30 per student. For more information or to make reservations, visit https://www.historicwhitehall.org/whitehall-wednesdays.

In the Whitehall Wednesday series, Whitehall House and Gardens will host educational workshops for adults that focus on plants within the disciplines of art, gardening, science and forestry on the last Wednesday of every month, starting at 6pm. We partner with flower farmers, florists, arborists, horticulturalists and naturalists to bring fresh new programming to plant lovers in Louisville.

Proceeds from the program will benefit Whitehall, a historic house and estate garden owned and operated by the not-for-profit Historic Homes Foundation. Originally built in the mid-1850s as an Italianate farmhouse, the house was transformed in 1909 into the iconic Classical style mansion we know today that epitomizes the stately beauty of early twentieth-century architecture. At just under ten acres, Whitehall’s grounds offer the public multiple special gardens that are a horticultural treasure to the community.

Louisville, KY. – Whitehall House & Garden will be celebrating Valentine’s Day again this year by offering micro wedding cere-monies on Friday, February 14, 2025. Couples who want to avoid the stress and expense of a large wedding, or plan to elope, or renew marriage vows, may choose one of several time slots to be married inside this Historic Mansion. The cost is $1,000 and will include an officiant to perform the ceremony, cake, sparkling cider, and a complimentary wedding portrait with the option to purchase additional photos. Up to 20 guests may attend. A limited number of time slots are available. For more information go to: www.historicwhitehall.org/valentines-wedding or call 502-897-2944.

Proceeds from the Valentine’s Micro Weddings benefit Whitehall House & Gardens, a historic house owned and operated by the not-for-profit Historic Homes Foundation, Inc. Built in the mid-1850s and extensively renovated in 1909, Whitehall has been home to at least six different families, including the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Henry J. Stites (1816-91). At just under ten acres, Whitehall’s grounds and gardens represent a growing horticulture resource. A small arboretum features over 200 trees, including a rare specimen collection that has become an important source of propagation of interesting species. Whitehall’s Woodland Garden, a Victorian stumpery nestled in a wooded corner of the grounds, presents a regionally unprecedented collection of ferns and other woodland plants and is an official Display Garden of the Hardy Fern Foundation.

TARC and Olmsted Parks Conservancy are calling for submissions to the 25th annual Design-a-Bus contest! Local students are invited to submit artwork focused on the theme, “Cultivating Healthy Neighborhoods.” This year, students are being asked to visit their local park or an outdoor space, and think about ways they can improve the health of their community, then submit an illustration reflecting that idea or experience. Students can learn more and apply today via the form on our website!

This year’s entry deadline is Friday, March 14, 2025.

While construction continues at American Printing House on lower Frankfort Avenue, exhibit design work is well underway at Solid Light in downtown. This past month, the inclusive prototyping team that is working with Solid Light convened several times to provide incremental feedback on two bodies of work. The Prototyping Team is a group of individuals from all walks of life ranging from blind and low vision or deafblind. They utilize white canes or dog guides, and have various amounts of mobility, or use mobility aids and more. The team tests various items, potential exhibits, layouts, and more to ensure full accessibility.

One session focused on the three scale models that will be included in The Dot Experience. These include Helen Keller, Louis Braille, and Buddy, the first U.S. guide dog. The contractor working on the statues are faced with the challenge of making decisions about material and granularity of detail so that they can be meaningful by touch, not just by sight. The meeting with the inclusive prototyping team set that process in motion.

Photo Description: Members of the Prototyping Team sit at a table statues of multiple models. Their hands are on the faces of the statues.

Calling All Small Businesses in District 9!

Are you a proud small business owner in District 9? We want to feature YOU in our upcoming biweekly newsletter! Showcase your business to our engaged community at absolutely no cost.

To apply, simply send us:

- Your logo

- Business name

- Business email

- Business phone number

- Website URL

- A small blurb about your business, upcoming events, & discounts you may have for newsletter readers

- (Optional) 3-5 photos of your amazing space, products, or something related to your business

Don’t miss this opportunity to shine a spotlight on your business. Hurry, spots are limited! Send your details to and regina.garr@louisvilleky.gov and jasmine.presley@louisvilleky.gov today. Let’s celebrate and support our local businesses together!