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Dear District 12 Partners,
It is with mixed emotions that I write to you for the last time as your councilman. While I am sad to be leaving, I am proud of what we have accomplished together. As a lifelong Southender, I was honored to be selected as your representative when the Louisville Metro Council was born in 2002. I promised you then that I would be a strong voice for southwest Louisville as we forged this new government, and I never forgot that promise.
Success does not come in a vacuum, and I am grateful for those of you who took time to contact the office, read our e-newsletters/social media posts, and attend our District Dialogues and Coffee with your Councilman events. Together we identified concerns, possibilities, and strategies to make our community better. From day one I have been blessed with my supportive family, especially my wife Sherry and son Ryan, and incredible assistants who worked tirelessly to respond to your needs, our number one priority. I am grateful for their work, especially that of Mary Ann Vetter, Liz Kennedy McQuillen, and Heather Blazis.
I am particularly proud of transformational projects on Dixie Highway and Riverview Park (Greenwood Boat docks). The initial investment in local tax dollars into a New Dixie plan grew into a $35 million project using state and federal dollars to improve safety and mobility on a corridor once known as the Dixie Dieway. I am grateful for Rep. Joni Jenkins who worked so hard to get state funds allocated and all of you who attended countless planning meetings to help us balance safety, development, and neighborhood needs. The process is much more difficult than designing from scratch. Collisions, especially fatal ones, have been cut almost in half in this section of Dixie and I believe that is money well spent.
Over the years, Riverview Park was transformed from a single swing set and a glorified outhouse to a multi-million-dollar park that enhances the views and uses of the river. The restrooms, spray parks, pavilions, additional parking lot for boaters, and the new pickleball courts make this park a treasure for the Southend. And for over a decade the Riverview Independence Festival brought us a family friendly celebration with kids’ activities, talented musical acts culminating in beautiful fireworks.
I am a career educator, not a career politician. Like many of you, I am a lifelong Southender who simply cares deeply about our end of town. I am proud of our momentum as I leave office. Bank of America opened recently on Dixie (old Rite Aid) and Wawa (old Logan’s) and Panda Express (old W.W. Cousins) are in construction, with a plan for more retail at the old Jerry’s property in planning stages. The tennis courts at the SW Government Center are in the resurfacing process and will be ready for all to play this spring, including PRP High School tennis. The new vision for Sylvania Park has begun and I encourage you to attend the next public meeting, January 9th – 6:00 PM at Conway Middle School. The $10 million Veteran’s Village project on Dixie Highway is well under way and construction should begin in the summer. I am leaving office but not the Southend. I will continue to do my part to make our community better and I hope you will do so as well.
It has been a pleasure to be your councilmember. Thanks again for the honor and I will see you soon!
RB
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