 Recently, the Louisville-Jefferson County Waste Management District Board of Directors approved a regulation that specifies the use of reusable containers, paper bags, or compostable bags for yard waste collection in Jefferson County. Use of plastic bags that are not compostable would be prohibited.
I, along with my Republican colleagues on the Council, voiced our concerns to this regulation in an Op Ed to the Courier Journal. Below please find our letter.
Case for Plastic Bag Ban Faulty
The Courier Journal’s editorial board has every right to advocate its support for yet another ban and more regulations on our community, but their advocacy failed readers by incorrectly stating a number of key facts.
• The unelected board which decided to pass a ban on plastic bags for yard waste was not “confirmed by Metro Council.” The appointments were made solely by the mayor and no review of these appointments was allowed.
• Paper bags are twice as expensive as plastic bags. In fact paper bags cost 38 cents each while regular plastic bags are 19 cents. It has also been argued that supply and demand will help reduce prices. This claim is equally as false as there is absolutely no difference in the price of paper bags at big box home improvement stores in Louisville compared to cities with plastic bag bans touted by the advocates of this ban. These facts would have been easily discovered by taking a few minutes to browse the web for prices at local hardware and big box stores instead of blindly using handfed numbers provided by the very people who are advocating for this new ban.
• People who refuse to comply with this ban shall be subject to fines of up to $250. Again, this is a much larger fine than the $50 potential fine stated in your editorial.
Republicans on the Metro Council have been strong supporters of common-sense environmentalism. We have been leaders in investing in traffic light synchronization over the objections of then-Mayor Abramson, funding right-hand turn lanes to help minimize idling and road congestion and pushing for 80-gallon recycling carts within the Urban Service District to reduce the amount of trash going to our landfill.
The Metro Council would be shirking its responsibility by standing by and allowing a small unelected board, albeit with good intentions, to make community-wide decisions based on faulty facts and contrived logic. Many neighborhood and suburban cities have expressed their concerns that this ban will impact the current agreements they have with haulers, some of which do not even use the Outer Loop Landfill.
Passing this ban without consideration of those agreements or having a clear understanding of what will be used at the landfill as alternative daily cover (as required by law) are some of the concerns that were expressed to the Solid Waste Management Board.
The Solid Waste Management Board does have the authority to pass some regulations. Just as that board has decided to impose their will on the people of this community, members of the Metro Council have the right and responsibility to challenge their decisions and question its actual impact.
KEN FLEMING (District 7)
KEVIN KRAMER (District 11)
KELLY DOWNARD (District 16)
GLEN STUCKEL (District 17)
MARILYN PARKER (District 18)
JERRY MILLER (District 19)
STUART BENSON (District 20)
ROBIN ENGEL (District 22)
JAMES PEDEN (District 23)
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 Thousands of cyclists, paddlers, and walkers will be in motion in this Memorial Day during the 19th Mayor's Healthy Hometown Subway Fresh Fit Hike, Bike, and Paddle May 26th at Waterfront Park.
Subway Restaurants is the title sponsor of Hike, Bike & Paddle, with presenting sponsors, Coca-Cola, Norton Healthcare and Thorntons.
Paddlers will have the option of a 3 or 6-mile paddling course from Harbor Lawn in Waterfront Park to Cox Park and back. TARC will provide a free shuttle back to the Waterfront for the paddlers wishing to complete the upriver-only 3-mile course.
Paddling participants will launch their canoes or kayaks at the river ramp located at the Harbor Lawn of Waterfront Park. Paddlers can drop their boats off at the “Green” parking lot near River Road and Witherspoon Street from 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
For cyclists, a 15-mile route will roll through Old Louisville, down Southern Parkway and into Iroquois Park, one of Louisville’s signature Olmsted-designed Metro Parks. Turnoffs will provide options for cycling routes as short as two miles.
The hiking route, which is wheelchair-accessible, will allow walkers to explore downtown along Third St. before turning at York St. in front of the main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library. Walkers may bring dogs to participate in the hike, as long as the animal is on a leash and owners pick up waste during the walk as required by law.
Both the cycling and walking routes will be marked with signage and will have plenty of water stops to refill water bottles. The Louisville Bicycle Club is providing “bike captains” to help cyclists obey the rules of the road. “Bike doctors” will be in Waterfront Park before the ride and along the route to assist cyclists with any equipment problems. Louisville Metro Police will provide traffic assistance at key intersections and the Louisville Metro EMS bicycle team will patrol the route.
A healthy marketplace with nutritional snacks, free children’s activities, and informational booths will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Waterfront Park. There will also be free tours on the river in the large “Voyager Canoe.” Yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba, Nia and Pickleball demonstrations will be offered along with group participation.
3,000 free T-shirts will be available for those arriving early and completing a brief survey. The Brain Injury Association will distribute 500 helmets to riders who don’t have one. Coca-Cola will distribute 2,500 pedometers to the hikers.
As an added bonus, all participants in the Hike, Bike & Paddle will get free admission to the Kentucky Reggae Festival happening Memorial Day at the Water Tower. The free passes will be available at the Reggae Festival booth at the Hike, Bike & Paddle.
Participants are encouraged to be “green” and bring their own water bottles which they will be able to fill in Waterfront and Iroquois Parks as part of the Louisville Water’s Pure Tap To Go program. For those without a water bottle the Louisville Metro Parks Foundation will have them available for sale on-site.
This is the tenth year for the events, which are held each Memorial Day and Labor Day. The events are part of the city’s Healthy Hometown Movement, created to encourage Louisville residents to be more active and make healthier lifestyle choices. For more information, go to www.hikebikeandpaddlelouisville.com.
 Flags4Vets 7th Annual Flags4Vets National Memorial Day Vigil will take place at Noon on Saturday, May 24, at Waterfront Park. Co-hosting this event, with Flags4Vets, will be Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, and Congressman John Yarmuth, both long-time supporters of Flags4Vets and of many other patriotic causes. This event is open to everyone.
Flags4Vets, Administrator of the event, invites all Kentuckiana Citizens to attend a short ceremony presided over by The Honorable Mayor Greg Fischer, starting on Saturday, May 24 at Noon. Following the ceremony, volunteers will begin placing 15,000 grave flags, one-by-one, spelling out USA in a 170 by 450 foot pattern. The project is expected to be completed by nightfall. It is not necessary to sign up or register to volunteer. JUST SHOW UP! Volunteers may help for a couple of hours, or just stop by to place a flag or two in tribute to members of their family who now serve, or have served, in the United States Armed Forces, or as other First Responders.
Fred Moore, Director of Flags4Vets, said: "The goal of Flags4Vets is for Louisville to become the permanent location of the National Memorial Day Vigil. The NMDV has grown, from its inception seven years ago, to placing flags on Veterans' graves in forty-two states."
This family oriented event will provide children and adults alike the opportunity to show Veterans and First Responders that we appreciate the sacrifices they have made to protect us and ensure our freedom.
After Memorial Day, just like in each of the last six years, the 15,000 flags will be collected and distributed across the USA to be placed on veterans' graves. 6,000 of the flags will be held in reserve to honor the graves of veterans in the Kentuckiana area.
Flags4Vets is a National certified non-profit 501(c)(3). The mission of Flags4Vets is to privately fund U.S. Flags for every U.S. Veteran's grave and to organize a corps of volunteers to place those flags on Veterans' graves. Further; we advance the cause of the U.S. Flag through educational outreach programs and events to the general public, schools, scouting groups, veterans' organizations, corporations, clubs, and other interested parties. We have placed U.S. Flags on the graves of U.S. Veterans in 42 states.
You can help by making a tax deductible donation at www.Flags4Vets.com. Your support is greatly appreciated.
 The Thoroughbred Chorus: Monday, June 2, 7:00 p.m.
The Jeffersontown Library, in collaboration with the Greater Jeffersontown Historical Society, is presenting an evening with The Thoroughbred Chorus. An award winning a cappella harmony music singing group, The Thoroughbred Chorus was established in 1946 as a member of what is now known as the Barbershop Harmony Society. Come listen to the music and learn about the group's history.
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 For only $20, a family of up to four members can play nine holes at any Metro Parks course. The $20 includes greens and cart fees, and families can take advantage of the deal after 4:30 p.m. on three days: Saturday, May 24, Sunday, May 25 and Monday, May 26.
Families are encouraged to call in advance to book a tee time at the golf course of their choice!
“This is an inexpensive way for parents to introduce their kids to the game of golf,” said Metro Parks Director Mike Heitz. “Families spend a lot of time together during Memorial Day weekend, and there’s no better place to do that than at one of our great public courses.”
Metro Parks golf courses are open from daylight to dark seven days a week.
About Metro Parks Golf:
Louisville's nine public golf courses offer a quality golfing experience at some of the most affordable prices in the nation. Each course has its own unique character, and some consistently rank among Kentucky's best and most challenging courses. The nine municipally-owned golf courses meet the needs of everyone from beginners to scratch golfers. For more information, visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroParks/golf.
 Wondering how to keep your children learning over the summer? Join us at Camp Wonderopolis. It’s FREE, it’s fun, and full of ways to engage kids in summer learning. Pre-registration is open now at http://wonderopolis.org/camp-early-registration/.
Camp Wonderopolis will stoke your spirit exploration and discovery as you chart your path through six different tracks of scientific Wonder. Engage in Wonder lessons and test your learning to earn Wonder Cards® (42 in all). Try out fun hands-on activities using everyday objects. Check out what other Campers are doing and share your own experiences on the Wonder Wall. Even enter weekly contests for a chance to win Camp prizes.
Created by Louisville’s own National Center for Families Learning (NCFL), Camp Wonderopolis will build vocabulary, background knowledge, and literacy skills along the way. Better yet, Camp is created so programs, families, and individuals can customize their experience to suit their own particular needs.
What makes you curious? What will make you want to explore some more? Camp Wonderopolis officially starts June 16, but you can pre-register now at http://wonderopolis.org/camp-early-registration/ to reserve your spot.
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