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The Solid Waste Management Services Enforcement Department has impounded its 4th vehicle of 2018 for illegal dumping.
With the help of employees from Bulk Waste, last week a Uhaul truck in the 2500 block of W Jefferson was seen illegally dumping. The employee took pictures of the vehicle and waited until SWMS Enforcement was able to investigate.
“Once again, I commended the officers and Bulk Waste for helping us crack down on this crime,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5). “Our streets and alleys are not a landfill, if you are going to remove trash and debris do it the right way or it will cost you.”
SWMS officers say once confronted, it was learned one of the individuals lived in the area and knew Bulk Waste would be in the area soon for bulky item collection. They were working at another property and hauled debris from that location and placed at a vacant property in the 2500 block of W Jefferson.
The responsible party will receive a $500 fine plus the cost of cleanup and pay approximately $500 in impound and storage fees.
Over the last several years, SWMS officers have been impounding vehicles involved in illegal dumping after the Metro Council approved a change in the Metro Code of Ordinances. The change also allows anyone who sees illegal dumping and can identify the vehicle or shoot pictures of it. Those pictures have lead officers to impound the vehicle. Eighteen vehicles were impounded in 2017.
When Kentucky-native and U.S. Army Specialist Brandon Mullins drove into the desert region of the Kandahar province in Afghanistan on Aug. 25, 2011, he didn’t realize he was in for the fight of his life.
Before heading out on deployment, Mullins left his mother a voicemail saying, “I’m all grown, 21, and living on my own. Going away today for a little bit. Don’t worry. I’ll be back. I’ll be home. I’m going to make it back.” A few months later his unit was attacked with a rudimentary explosive device and he lost his life.
“Brandon was a talented hockey player and very popular with the ladies,” said his mother, Cathy Mullins. “He didn’t just die. He died for his country. People have sacrificed their lives so we can enjoy things like state fairs and going to church.”
On Sunday Aug. 19, the Kentucky State Fair will honor military members, veterans and their families during the Oak Ridge Boys free concert. Cathy Mullins, along with 40 Gold Star families, will attend with the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation. Gold Star families are those, like the Mullins, who have lost family members during military service. The foundation honors Gold Star families with monuments and memorials throughout the country.
“They sacrificed their son for the freedoms that we enjoy and they don’t really get any recognition for it,” said Brent Casey, director of the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation. “Our goal at the foundation is to help educate the public that there are families among us who have given a whole lot more than we have, they’ve given one of their own family members for the freedom we enjoy today.”
Ceremony participants include:
- David Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues
- Heather French Henry, Deputy Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs
- Brig. General Benjamin Adams, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs
- Troy Yocum, President of Active Heroes
During Military Sunday on Aug. 19, free admission is available online for military members, veterans and their family (up to 4 people). Details are available on GovX.com. Parking is not included. The 2018 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 16-26 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. To purchase tickets and parking or for more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or download our Kentucky State Fair app.
The Texas Roadhouse Free Concert Series is located at the Bluegrass Village on the west side of the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
What is the latest on the Hepatitis A outbreak in Metro Louisville? Who makes sure restaurants are clean and prepare food safely? Who controls the mosquito population? Where do I go to learn about lead poisoning prevention?
The answers to those and many other questions can be heard at the next South Central Regional Forum which will focus on the work of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness on Wednesday, August 15th.
“This forum will take a look at many of the programs the Department handles on a daily basis to keep all of us safe,” says Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D-24). “We will also hear an update on how Louisville is dealing with the recent outbreak of Hepatitis A. It’s time for everyone to be aware of what we are doing to bring this under control.”
The forum is set for the new South Central Regional Library at 7400 Jefferson Boulevard from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Councilwoman Flood says there will be information on how to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A, as well as, other health information.
Nick Hart, Environmental Health Manager of the Department has been invited to answer any and all questions about a wide range of topics. The Environmental Health Division monitors compliance and provides education and enforcement in many areas including:
- Food Safety
- Hotels/Motels
- Swimming Pools
- Lifeguard Certification
- Mobile Home Parks
- Septic and Onsite Systems
- Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention/Lead Abatement
- Mosquito Control
- Rabies control/ Animal Bites/Animal Quarantine
- Tattoo/Body Art/Piercing Studios and Certifications
- Hazmat Response
- Radon
- Smoke-Free Ordinance
- Children’s Meal Ordinance
The South Central Regional Forums are sponsored by Councilwoman Flood and Council Members James Peden (R-23), Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) and Barbara Shanklin (D-2).
Louisville Metro Police Department and Code Enforcement will be in attendance.
For more information about this South Central Regional Forum, contact Councilwoman Flood’s office at 574-1124.
2018’s second CycLOUvia, the popular event showcasing alternative transportation, is returning to Three Points—Germantown, Schnitzelburg, and Shelby Park—on Sunday, August 19, Mayor Fischer announced.
To support and highlight the growing business activity on Logan Street, the route will stretch on Goss Avenue and Logan Street from Texas Avenue to Kentucky Street.
“Another CycLOUvia is another reason to enjoy exercise, alternative transportation and community,” Fischer said. “I encourage neighbors along this route to bring their bicycles, skateboards and walking shoes to Goss and Logan streets, participate in this event and support local businesses.”
Goss Avenue and Logan Street from Texas Avenue to Kentucky Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 2-6 p.m. Many businesses along the corridor will be open and engaging participants, creating an atmosphere that is uniquely Louisville.
The return to Three Points marks the fourteenth CycLOUvia event, with other events taking place on Bardstown Road, West Broadway, and Frankfort Avenue.
CycLOUvia is Louisville’s opportunity to experience transportation in a unique atmosphere, by walking, cycling, skateboarding, or dancing in the street. Streets account for a massive amount of public land in all cities. CycLOUvia repurposes these public spaces by temporarily replacing traditional vehicular traffic with pedestrian traffic.
During CycLOUvia, streets become paved parks where people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds can come to improve their mental, physical, and emotional health.
Since 2012, CycLOUvia events have attracted tens of thousands of people to neighborhoods across the city. CycLOUvia promotes healthy lifestyles, alternative transportation, safety and economic development.
For more information, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/advanced-planning/cyclouvia
Haz Bin, Louisville’s household hazardous waste drop-off facility, will operate on a five days a week schedule beginning Tuesday, August 14. The facility is currently open only on Wednesday and Saturday. That’s three additional days per week to safely dispose of such things as batteries, gasoline, solvents and other items that may be lingering in your basement or garage. Program guidelines, including which hazardous materials are accepted and which are not, are available on the Metro Public Works webpage.
Haz Bin location and new hours:
7501 Grade Lane
Tuesday through Saturday
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Department of Public Health and Wellness has found West Nile infected mosquitoes in surveillance traps in three Louisville ZIP Code areas. The ZIP Codes are 40212, 40213, and 40214.
“This indicates that West Nile infected mosquitoes are now present throughout our community,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. “We advise everyone to take the appropriate precautions no matter what ZIP Code you live in. You should wear insect repellant if you go outside during dusk or dawn and should remove standing water around your home.”
The Department of Public Health and Wellness advises people to take the following precautions:
Avoid Mosquito Bites
- Use insect repellents when you go outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection. To optimize safety and effectiveness, repellents should be used according to the label instructions. More information about insect repellents can be found here at http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html.
- When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection. Don’t apply repellents containing permethrin directly to skin. Do not spray repellent on the skin under your clothing.
- Take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing from dusk to dawn or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside. Use your air conditioning, if you have it.
- Help reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and birdbaths on a regular basis.
No human cases of West Nile have been reported in Louisville so far this year. Last year there was one non-fatal human case. In 2016 there were two human cases and one death. In 2015, there were three human cases with no deaths.
In most instances, people infected with West Nile virus either show no symptoms or relatively mild symptoms. However, less than one percent of infected people develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. Serious illness can occur in people of any age. However, people over 60 years of age are at the greatest risk for severe disease. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk for serious illness.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness has operated a mosquito control program for more than 50 years. The department does surveillance of mosquito populations with traps strategically located throughout the community, and tests mosquitos for such diseases as West Nile, Zika and St. Louis Encephalitis.
In the spring the department pre-treats potential mosquito breeding sites with larvicide to prevent hatch offs. In the summer it treats catch basins and performs mosquito fogging in response to West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.
To check if your area has been fogged or will be fogged call the mosquito hotline, 574-6641, or visit https://louisvilleky.gov. To make a request regarding mosquitoes in your neighborhood call Metro Call at 311 or 574-5000.
Officials from the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Louisville Parks and Recreation, Mayor Greg Fischer, Council President David James, and many park neighbors celebrated the start of phase two of the Victory Park Revitalization Project at the annual Victory Park Day celebration today.
Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Louisville Parks & Recreation began the project in 2017. Phase two, an $640,000 additional park investment, includes a new playground and sprayground; addition to the lodge to allow a covered picnic area; additional tree planting and new connector walking paths.
After several public meetings with Victory Park neighbors in 2016, Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Louisville Parks and Recreation finalized a Master Plan that outlined work needed for the park. The first phase of the project included relocating the basketball court to the northwest side of the park to create a larger open area for activities; new walking path, more than a quarter mile in length; additional lighting, benches and 35 trees. Phase one was completed this spring.
Financial support for more than $1.1 million revitalization project, came from donors of Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s Campaign for Extraordinary Parks, including Humana Foundation, James Graham Brown Foundation, PNC Foundation and Kosair Charities along with support from City of Louisville, Mayor Greg Fischer, Metro Council President David James and Louisville Parks and Recreation.
“Victory Park is very important part of this neighborhood and Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s wants to complete projects that ensure the surrounding residents can enjoy a beautiful, safe and clean park,” said Layla George, President/CEO, Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
“It has taken the cooperation of a lot of partners, and a lot of hard work to get to phase two of the project in Victory Park,” said Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose. “It’s going to be exciting to see it continue and evolve into a true source of pride for the neighborhood.”
“Parks are a community resource, and we have world-class parks because the community comes together to care for them,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “The Olmsted Parks Conservancy is a critical partner in the effort to maintain parks like Victory, and the relationship they have with Metro Government and Parks and Recreation is so important to this city.”
“The Community appreciates all of the changes we have seen in making Victory Park a true neighborhood park and they look forward to their continued partnership with Metro Parks and the Olmsted Conservancy as we move ahead with Phase II. I want to thank everyone for their commitment to improving Victory Park for the people who live here and the people and families who come to use the park for their enjoyment,” said Metro Council President David James, who represents District 6, where Victory Park is located.
Victory Park is a four-acre parcel of land that was set aside as a park space by the Board of Park Commissioners in 1919 with a design drawn in 1923 by the Olmsted Brothers. The area was noted for its magnificent trees, including gum, oak, osage orange and elm. It was originally called Greenwood Park, but its name was changed to Victory Park, in commemoration of World War I.
Victory Park has historically been the site for band concerts, plays, and gathering space for choral groups, as well as a place for active and passive play. Since its inception, this greenspace has been a focal point and a source of community pride for the surrounding neighborhood.
