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Our District 18 office starts every new year with goals and plans to improve the District. We always want to better understand how we are serving you and hopefully find even better ways to deliver you first class services from Metro Government.
As part of that effort, we track not only the number of calls, emails, and other contacts with constituents but also the topics, results and work undertaking to resolve each. Calls range from reporting potholes to street sign replacement. Others may be much more complex, causing us to work weeks or even months to get a positive result. However, each call is important, and we will find an answer to your question or concern!
Biggest Projects Undertaken In 2024
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Des Pres Park Improvements: The basketball court have been completely re-done. There is a new surface, goals, backboards, nets, and striping! The restrooms are now open year-round, and a new waiting paddle rack installed at the pickleball courts. The installation of new LED ballfield lights, that are more energy efficient and less costly to operate will be installed by spring 2025.
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Dorsey Lane Traffic and Safety Improvements: We continue to find ways to create a safer driving experience on Dorsey Lane. Measures include us continuing the pursuit of stop signs along Dorsey Lane as well as having LMPD place their mobile radar/speed machines at various locations to address speeding. There are many suggestions we would like to implement; however, we are not permitted to do so by federal guidelines. Installation of speed humps are one not allowed.
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Paving, Paving and more Paving: The Metro Council has once again increased our level of paving. 8 years ago, we pushed to increase the annual funding from $3M to over $20 annually. For the past two years we have moved that number to nearly $30M. (I am happy to include that portions of Dorsey Lane have been scheduled to be resurfaced this next fiscal year) This increase has led to significant improvements in the condition of our district’s roads. Metro Public Works uses a rating system that determines which roads are eligible and the order in which we get them resurfaced. This rating happens every five years and is scheduled once again this spring, 2025. Our office continues to fight for District 18 in getting our roads paved as quickly as possible.
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Sidewalk Repair and Connections: Many sidewalk pieces along Shelbyville Road that were funded during the budget process have been completed. While several other locations are in need, we have made significant progress. We have funded over $350,000 in the 2024 fiscal year for repairing broken sidewalks (throughout the District) and connecting sidewalks along Shelbyville Road, Ward Ave & Old Harrods Creek Rd. This has been one of the largest investments made since Merger started in 2003 and will also help to eventually allow a person to walk along Shelbyville Road without having to walk onto the shoulder of the street for large segments.
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Animal Rabies/Vaccine Clinic: We held 2 additional rabies clinics in the district in 2024. The 2 events served 173 pets in the spring and 172 in the fall.
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Junk Drop Offs and Shredding Events: Our office hosted 2 junk Pop-Up Drop-Off events, that included shredding and prescription take back, at the UL Shelby Campus serving more than 2,000 people/vehicles. The Pop-Up Drop-Off events were the two largest in Metro in 2024 and the 4 largest turnouts in the last two years.
Analysis of the Calls, Emails, and other contacts we received in 2024:
In 2024 we received 975 individual contacts from residents of District 18 that resulted in 1198 Metro Call concerns reported. We also assisted 500 residents with information and concern updates. This was a significant increase from 2023. These requests range from minor concerns to larger ones that field inspections by our office and follow-ups might result in funding requests that could lead to months of additional work. These numbers were compiled by my office help to understand how we are utilizing our time as well as where we need to prioritize our efforts in upcoming budget hearings. The following is a breakdown of a portion of calls received in 2024:
-302 Public Works
-84 E-Newsletter (requests)
-162 Metro Parks
-48 LMPD
-22 Code Enforcement
-Others – 40 State, 35 LG&E, 24 MSD
In 2025 we plan to continue to host our Coffee with your Councilwoman series. The Councilwoman will again participate in the “Meet Your Legislator” series event March 8th at the N.E. Regional Library as well as sponsoring two Pop-Up Drop-Off Events with shredding at the UL Shelby Campus on Saturday’s April 5th and November 15th. She is also co-sponsoring with D-16 a Mammogram event April 23rd at the Lyndon City Hall. Other events in District 18 will be set in the coming months and we will share that with you through this newsletter as soon as information becomes available.
Again, I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your representative on the Metro Council. I look forward to hearing from you in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Councilwoman Marilyn Parker |
