District 9 eNews - Thursday, January 29, 2015

 

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Bill Hollander

Councilman Bill Hollander
601 West Jefferson Street
(502) 574-1109
Email Bill

 

kyle ethridge

Kyle Ethridge
Legislative Assistant
(502) 574-3908
Email Kyle


Links

Visit the District 9 Website

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See NDF/CIF Spending

In this issue...


NEW Pedestrian and Bike Signs on Cannons

KYTC signs

Following a request by the District 9 office, four new signs were recently added on Cannons Lane around Seneca Park.    Based on the high volumes of both cyclists and pedestrians crossing Cannons near the park, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet posted bike crossing and pedestrian warning signs.   The signs are good reminders to SLOW DOWN around the park and look out for pedestrians and bikes.   Thanks to a resident of Hycliffe Avenue in St. Matthews for contacting our office with the suggestion!     


First Community Conversation a Success!

D9 Community Conversation

Thank you to everyone who took time to attend our first D9 Community Conversation on January 27.  We had a big crowd and heard many good ideas.  Special thanks to Grace Akers, Executive Director of St. Joseph Children’s Home, for reporting on its plans and activities, and to the Peterson-Dumesnil House for hosting the meeting. 

Our next Community Conversation is Wednesday, February 18 at 6:30 p.m. at United Crescent Hill Ministries, 150 State Street in Clifton.  We’ll hear a short report from Gina O'Brien, Executive Director of Brightside. But most of the time and focus at the meeting will be on you.  We are hoping for unscripted, open conversations about your vision for D9 and the City. Please mark your calendar and join us – and bring along a friend or neighbor!


Tax Preparation Appointments Available

tax prep

My office is partnering with the Louisville Asset Building Coalition to provide FREE tax preparation services again. The service is FREE if you earned $58,000 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or less in 2014 or if you quality for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Call the office today to see if you qualify and make your appointment – 574-1109! Appointments are available on four Fridays in February and March (Feb 6, 20 and Mar 6, 20) between 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at United Crescent Hill Ministries, 150 S. State Street. 


Upcoming Junk Pick Up in February

metro seal

The 9th District Urban Services District (USD) will have junk collection set-out on a select weekend in February, depending on your address.  You may begin setting out your junk Friday afternoon prior to your junk pick-up week and must have it all out by Monday at 6:00 AM.  For your specific junk set-out weekend please visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-9 and scroll to the bottom of the page to “MyLouisville” and enter your address, call the office at 574-1109, or email Kyle Ethridge.  For collection guidelines please visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/public-works/residential-recycling. You may now sign up for junk set out reminders by email and text under “MyLouisville”.


Alcohol Beverage Control Notification

abc notifications

Attached please find a Change in Ownership memo and Courier Journal Legal advertisement for an NQ2 Restaurant Retail Liquor by the Drink and Sunday Liquor by the Drink License(s) being applied for, located at 2206 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY. 40206.  The ad ran in The Courier Journal Friday, January 23, 2015.


METCO Loans for Former KT’s Restaurant

metro seal

Three loans were approved in the amount of $160,000 by the Louisville Metropolitan Business Development Corporation. These loans will leverage a total investment of $785,000 to assist Le Moo, LLC, owned by Kevin Grangier, to renovate the property located at 2300 Lexington Road and prepare it for productive commercial reuse as a steak house with live music.

  • $10,000 accessibility loan
  • $50,000 façade loan
  • $100,000 business loan

For more information about the city’s small-business loan program, visit http://louisvilleky.gov/government/economic-development/services/metco-loan-program.


Reminder on Property Owner Duty to Maintain Alleys

Information provided by Metro Public Works

We sometimes hear from property owners who are confused about who is responsible for maintaining alleys adjacent to their properties. As outlined in the ordinance below, the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office says property owners must maintain the condition of their property line and alley ways in a clean and safe way. That includes making sure that weeds and other plant growth do not exceed a height of 10 inches. Anyone found to not maintain their property accordingly could face a $100 fine.

156.051 RESPONSIBILITY OF PERSONS.

   (A)   General. The provisions of this subchapter shall govern the responsibilities of persons for the maintenance of structures, and the equipment and premises thereof. Every owner and occupant must fully comply with all the provisions of the Uniform Landlord Tenant Act/Ordinance. The occupant shall promptly notify the owner of any deficiencies and violations of this chapter.  All premises shall be kept and maintained free of any public nuisance.

   (B)   Sanitary condition.

      (1)   Cleanliness.  Every occupant of a structure or part thereof shall keep that part of the structure or premises which that occupant occupies, controls, or uses in a clean, safe and sanitary condition, and in the case of a single-family structure, the owner shall keep the premises free of all weeds and prohibited plant growth, as defined in § 156.052(D), to the center line of such street, easement or alley as are adjacent to or abut the premises.  Nothing in this section shall invalidate a lease provision.  The Metro Government hereby declares that plant growth in excess of the length permitted under § 156.052(D) materially affects public health and safety and creates an emergency condition which allows a landlord to enter immediately upon the premises of a tenant as provided by § 151.33(B) solely to remedy such condition.  Every owner of a dwelling containing two or more dwelling units shall maintain, in a clean, safe and sanitary condition, and free of all weeds and prohibited plant growth, as defined in § 156.052(D), the shared or public areas of the dwelling and premises thereof to the center line of such street, easement or alley as are adjacent to or abut the premises. Any plant growth exceeding ten inches in height on land of three acres or more that abuts residential property, other than crops, trees, bushes, flowers or other ornamental plants, shall be at least 50 feet from the property line abutting the developed neighborhood.


What to do about Plastic Grocery Bags

plastic bags

The refrigerator is full and the pantry is stocked. Now what do you do with all those plastic grocery bags? You can recycle them, but not in your curbside recycling bin. Most large retail stores like Wal-Mart, Kroger and Meijer accept the used bags for recycling; their containers are usually located in front of the store.  The bags are then taken to a facility that can recycle them and they are turned into new products such as backyard decking, fences, playground equipment, pipes and even new plastic bags.  These bags need to be clean and dry to be recycled.  Our community’s single steam recycling program is not suited to handle the bags. When bags are collected curbside they get snagged in collection and processing equipment, usually requiring maintenance that costs money and time, and create inefficiencies for processing all the recyclables.  The bags also become contaminated and lose their value as material for new products. Of course the best way to address this problem is to reduce the number of plastic bags in use. Substitute reusable bags that you take with you on each shopping trip. The plastic bags you do get at the grocery store can be reused at home for such things as picking up after your dog during a walk, lining a litter box or small waste container. For more information on what can go in your recycling bin, http://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-works/recyclable-materials


Sustainability Meeting on Feb. 4

Beargrass Creek Alliance

Next Wednesday, February 4 at 6:30 p.m., Beargrass Creek Alliance (BCA) will be hosting a conversation featuring Louisville Sustainability Director Maria Koetter on Bellarmine University’s campus.  The event will be free and open to the public! Local citizens will have an opportunity to learn about water issues in Louisville and discuss their sustainability concerns with Louisville’s Sustainability Director.  The meeting will take place in Hilary’s, on the middle level of Horrigan Hall on Bellarmine University’s campus.

Ms. Koetter is the first Director of Sustainability in the Louisville Metro Office of Sustainability created in 2012.  She has extensive experience in the environmental field.  The Office of Sustainability published the City’s first sustainability plan, Sustain Louisville, in 2013. 

This community event is part of a broader scope of work that BCA engages in throughout the year.  See the website for more information about other projects: www.BeargrassCreek.org.  Visit BCA on Facebook to stay up to date: www.facebook.com/BeargrassCreek


City Launches Green Infrastructure Incentive Program

Businesses can take advantage of a new incentive to help make their facilities more green. Louisville Metro Government’s Office of Sustainability has launched a green infrastructure incentive program, which provides matching funds for private sector commercial projects to encourage businesses to invest in green stormwater management solutions.

The new program has been designed to align with the Metropolitan Sewer District’s (MSD) green infrastructure incentive program, which pays stipends for commercial infrastructure projects including pervious pavement, infiltration drains, water-harvesting systems, rain gardens and vegetative roofs. Green infrastructure projects that are approved through MSD’s program can then apply for the Office of Sustainability funds. 

The Office of Sustainability’s incentive funds are available to private sector applicants receiving $50,000 or less from MSD’s green infrastructure stipend program. The $100,000 fund will be used to match MSD’s stipend up to $10,000 per project. The fund will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis through June 30, 2015.

More information and applications are available on the Office of Sustainability’s website at http://louisvilleky.gov/government/sustainability/incentive-programs


BBB Tips on Finding a Trustworthy Tax Preparer

BBB

Need help filing your taxes? Do your research! BBB encourages taxpayers to use caution when selecting tax preparation help. Using the wrong preparer could cause the taxpayer a lot of headaches, fines, and fees. Every year, BBB receives thousands of complaints from consumers against tax preparers. Complainants often state that the tax preparer made errors in their return, which resulted in fines and fees.

Although tax preparers must sign off on the paperwork, remember, you are ultimately responsible for filing the return, and will be subject to penalties if there are problems. Here are some tips on finding a trustworthy tax preparer:

  • Ask around. Get referrals from family and friends.
  • Check out the company’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org.
  • Look for credentials. Your tax preparer should be a certified public accountant, a tax attorney, an enrolled agent, and/or a certified E-file provider.
  • Find out if the preparer is affiliated with a professional organization that requires continuing education and has a code of ethics.
  • Make sure the tax preparer is properly registered. A tax preparer must obtain a Preparer Tax Identification Number from the IRS.
  • Consider whether the individual or firm will be around to answer questions about the preparation of your tax return, months, even years, after the return has been filed.
  • Do not fall for the promise of big refunds. Beware of tax preparers that promise larger refunds than the competition, and avoid tax preparers who base their fee on a percentage of your refund.
  • Read the contract carefully. Ensure you understand how much it is going to cost for the service, and how the cost will be affected if preparation is more complicated and time consuming than affected.
  • Remember, a paid preparer is required by law to sign your return and fill in the preparer areas of the form. They should also include their appropriate identifying number on the return. In addition, the preparer must give you a copy of your return.

For more advice on finding professionals you can trust, visit bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.


Repair Affair Applications Now Being Accepted

Repair Affair

New Directions Housing is accepting applications for Repair Affair 2015 until April 30, 2015. Repair Affair is completely volunteer-drive. All repair work is performed by volunteers. Repair Affair is not a decorating, remodeling, or an emergency repair program. Repair Affair is for small repairs that improve the safety, security, and weather efficiency of the home. New Directions does not guarantee assistance to everyone who applies. There is no cost to apply, but there are several eligibility requirements for Repair Affair:

To qualify you must:

  • Be 60 years of age or older or certified disabled;
  • Own and reside in a single-family home;
  • Qualify as low income

If you know of anyone that would like to apply, please have them call Jacie Morgan at (502) 719-7153. 

Repair Affair 2015 event days will be:

  • Southern Indiana:  Saturday, June 6th
  • Louisville-Jefferson County:  Saturday, June 13th

District 9 Calendar Events

Below are some Ninth District calendar events!  To view a full listing of events please visit the District 9 Blog at http://district9news.wordpress.com/.  If you would like to submit events to be considered for the blog calendar please email Kyle Ethridge or call 574-1109.

Friday, January 30: Historic Frankfort Avenue will host the January F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop from 6:00pm to 10:30pm. The F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop, held year-round on the final Friday of every month, provides FREE parking and transportation to participating shops, restaurants and galleries along the Frankfort, Mellwood and Story Avenue corridor.  For more information, visit www.fatfridayhop.org

Saturday, January 31: Carmichael's Bookstore, 2720 Frankfort Avenue, to host Jonathan Ashley at 7:00 p.m. Carmichael’s welcomes Louisville writer and LEO Weekly contributor Jonathan Ashley for a reading from and signing of his debut novel The Cost of Doing Business about the Louisville drug trade. Questions please call 896-6950.

Wednesday, February 4: Beargrass Creek Alliance to host a community meeting with Louisville Sustainability Director, Maria Koetter, at 6:30 p.m. at Bellarmine University. The event is FREE and open to the public. Local citizens will have an opportunity to learn about water issues in Louisville and discuss their sustainability concerns with Louisville’s Sustainability Director.  The meeting will take place in Hilary’s, on the middle level of Horrigan Hall on Bellarmine University’s campus.

Thursday, February 5: Friends of the Louisville Free Public Library invite you to attend the annual membership meeting featuring Lisa Sizemore, Interim Library Director and Bill Hollander, District 9 Metro Councilman. Learn how you, as a Friend, can help advocate for the library. Enjoy refreshments and door prizes! The meeting will be in the Main Library Auditorium, 301 York Street, at 6:00 p.m. Please RSVP by calling 574-1611.


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