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By a vote of 15 to 6, the Louisville Metro Council has amended the Louisville Metro Smoking ban ordinance to include concerns about the use of electronic smoking devices and hookah bars in public areas.
“I want to thank my colleagues for their support in making these changes,” said Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13), who is the primary sponsor of the ordinance. “Everyone agrees the smoking ban has gone a long way in protecting public health and as new products come on line we need to make sure they are included to maintain the protections we are now providing the public.”
The amended ordinance now includes electronic smoking devices and hookah bars in the banning of nicotine based products being used in public areas. The smoking ban ordinance was passed in its current form by the Metro Council in 2008.
“The ordinance passed tonight represents the bi-partisan work of a number of people on the council,” said Councilwoman Marilyn Parker (R-18). “The ordinance and the amendments we passed tonight protects job creators, their employees and the health of the people we represent.”
The Council’s Community Affairs, Housing, Health and Education Committee reviewed the changes for more than six months. The final version was approved with bipartisan support and input from business and the Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness.
“The Committee made sure that we listened to everyone who had an interest in this issue,” said Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin who chairs the Committee. “I want to thank Councilwoman Welch and Councilwoman Parker, who are both Registered Nurses, for working together to help us continue to protect the health of the people of Metro Louisville.”
This new version of the ordinance also modernizes and updates other parts of the original smoking ban with regard to language and related businesses, public areas and dwellings.
Highlights of the Amended Smoking Ban ordinance:
- Defines electronic smoking retail store as a business operation with at least 85% of sales dedicated to electronic smoking devices, and/or accessories or products; and defines electronic smoking device as any device containing or delivering nicotine that a person can use in any manner or form to inhale vapor or aerosol form of the product;
- Defines hookah as water pipe and associated products and devices used to produce fumes, smoke and/or vapor from burning or material including tobacco, herbal shisha; and defines hookah establishment as a business operation dedicated to the allowing on-site smoking through one or more hookah pipes, and must not allow minors in the building.
- There is an exemption for the consumption of any non-nicotine related products from an electronic smoking device at an electronic smoking retail store to allow tasting of various flavors.
- There is an exemption for any non-tobacco products through a hookah at a hookah lounge in operation as of March 1, 2017 shall not allow minors in the building, sell alcoholic beverages or be licensed as a food service establishment(LMCO Ch. 118)
- Smoking is not allowed 15 feet outside the entrance to any building, except for hookah establishments.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Donna Hargens announced last week that the district is launching a powerful new summer conference led by educators and focused on innovative ideas in JCPS.
The inaugural JCPS Deeper Learning Symposium, which will be held June 7–9 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, will feature nationally prominent keynote speakers and presenters as well as a number of JCPS educators. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the symposium, which will include teams of educators from each school and department in JCPS. Additionally, student performances and displays will help highlight the incredible talent throughout the district.
“The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Learning Redesigned,’” Dr. Hargens said. “This event will be an important opportunity to highlight the innovation around the concept of deeper learning that’s already happening in our district and in our schools. Simply put, this conference will help fuel other educators and leaders with ideas that can be used in classrooms to continue making learning relatable and fun for our students.”
The symposium will focus on the district’s vision to create personalized, deeper learning for every student and professional—a key goal of the Vision 2020 strategic plan. Deeper learning is grounded in helping students develop the social, emotional, and intellectual knowledge, skills, capacities, and dispositions to thrive in school and beyond by cultivating:
- Caring, constructive learning relationships
- Meaningful, personalized, real-world learning experiences.
- Supportive, equity-focused learning environments.
Several organizations and partners are supporting the JCPS Deeper Learning Symposium with donations or financial support. If an organization would like to help support the symposium, contact Sam Corbett with the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation at samc@cflouisville.org or call (502) 599-8650.
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Metro Parks & Recreation is offering an affordable family golfing package at its nine golf courses during the Memorial Day Weekend.
For only $25, a family of up to four members can play nine holes at any Metro Parks course. The $25 includes greens and cart fees, and families can take advantage of the deal after 4:30 p.m. on three days: Saturday, May 27, Sunday, May 28 and Monday, May 29.
Families are encouraged to call in advance to book a tee time at the golf course of their choice.
“Our courses are in great shape this spring, and we’re hoping for a lot of play from families this summer,” said Metro Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose. “Come out and enjoy a round of golf with the family on a great course at an affordable price!”
Metro Parks golf courses are open from daylight to dark seven days a week.
Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin (D-2) will be joined by students of Newburg Middle School for the official community dedication of a new bus stop bench at Exeter Ave and Indian Trail on Tuesday, May 16th.
“Over the winter months, the students collected plastic bottle caps to be formed into a plastic bus stop bench. It is a great community effort on their part and we are recognizing them on behalf of the people of our district,” says Shanklin.
After the bottle caps were collected, they were sent off for the formulation of the bench, by Greentree Plastics in Evansville, Indiana. Shanklin says the idea for the project came from Richard McKnight, a GE employee who saw how a concrete bench at the bus stop was fallen apart,
The project was completed with the help of McKnight, other GE employees and funding by Councilwoman Shanklin.
The bench will be picked-up on Friday, May 12th and a dedication service will be held on Tuesday, May 16th at 12:00pm.
The dedication will be held at the corner of Exeter Ave and Indian Trail, in front of the Newburg Library, which will also be the bench’s location.
“We want our young people to take pride and have a genuine interest in our community and this project is one way of not only thanking them for what they have done, but encourage them to do more,” says Shanklin.
Students and faculty representatives from Newburg Middle School as well as GE employees and Councilwoman Shanklin will be present at the dedication.
Monday (5/15/2017) and Tuesday (5/16/2017) are Air Quality Alert Days for ozone in Louisville/Southern Indiana. Forecasters believe ozone will be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange) range. Sensitive groups include seniors, children, and people with breathing ailments like asthma and COPD. The general public is not likely to be affected.
Check the air quality at louisvilleky.gov/airquality.
Find tips on reducing air pollution at helptheair.org.
Tony Crawford says his life has “taken a big turn for the better” since landing a production job at Louisville’s Bigelow Tea, and he credits a training program offered by the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center.
“The training was pretty intense and not easy at all, but definitely worth it,” said Crawford, 31, who’d been laid off from a previous job. “Graduation day, when we got our training certificates, there were 12-15 companies lined up in the room wanting to hire us. The training and support the center provided are the reason I have this job today.”
Crawford was recognized today by Mayor Greg Fischer as the one thousandth person placed into a job by the center, a one-stop facility that provides training and resources to meet the rising demand for skilled workers in the Louisville region.
Crawford credits the training for preparing him well for his new job and for securing a slightly higher wage than he would have gotten without the course.
(Learn more about training at the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center by calling (502) 276-9711, or at kentuckianaworks.org.)
The facility is located at 160 Rochester Dr., Building W, in the Airport Industrial Center in south Louisville.
The center, which opened in May 2013, also provides English as a Second Language classes, job fairs and other support for job seekers and employers. It’s operated by KentuckianaWorks, the Workforce Development Board for the Louisville area.
“Manufacturing is thriving in the Louisville region, and this center is vital in providing individuals the training and confidence they need to succeed – and connecting them with employers who need workers ready to hit the ground running, with the right skill set and motivation,” Mayor Fischer said.
The center’s career coaches help match job seekers with available manufacturing jobs and make sure they have the right training and skills for the work.
“As Louisville continues to serve as a shining example of the revitalization of our nation’s manufacturing sector, the Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center has been an important part of that success, providing hard-working Kentuckians with the tools and know-how they’ll need to thrive in the jobs of tomorrow,” said Congressman John Yarmuth. “I’m incredibly proud to be part of today’s announcement of the 1,000th job placement, and look forward to thousands more as the center continues its important work.”
Several training courses are offered at the center, including Certified Production Technician (CPT) training. Individuals who complete the four-week course often have a competitive advantage over job applicants who lack the training. A more intensive, two-week course is also available.
Since 2013, individuals have earned more than 3,000 training certificates and credentials at the center, including the CPT.
GE Appliances is among the more than 100 area companies who have hired individuals trained or referred by the center. The company has employed 45 people referred by the center since it opened in 2013.
“As the labor market continues to be a challenge, training people for careers in manufacturing is critical for companies such as GE Appliances,” said Tom Quick, Vice President, Human Resources at GE Appliances. “We appreciate the partnership with the KMCC.”
In addition to referring workers, the center also offers employers a place to post job openings and to access basic manufacturing skills training for existing employees.
“We believe in the work of this industry-specific career center because it’s an effective way to help fulfill our mission of improving people’s lives through the dignity of work,” said Michael Gritton, executive director of KentuckianaWorks.
Partners in the center are the Louisville Redevelopment Authority, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Jefferson County Public Schools – Adult Education and Career and Technical Education, Kentucky Department of Workforce Investment, Preeminent Training Specialists, ResCare Workforce Services and Vision of Hope Ministries, Inc.
The Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center is funded by a mix of local foundation grants and federal dollars. Start-up funding from the National Fund for Workforce Solutions in 2013 was matched by local groups including: Community Foundation of Louisville, Gheens Foundation, James Graham Brown Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and PNC Foundation. Funding is also currently provided by the Louisville Redevelopment Authority. Additional annual funding comes from the U.S. Dept. of Labor, through the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act.
Councilman Rick Blackwell invites residents to the next District 12 Dialogue on Tuesday, May 16th to learn more about the Metro Council’s Budget Review for the coming fiscal year. MSD also will make a presentation about its 20-year Critical Repair and Reinvestment Plan.
“The Council is just beginning its review of the Mayor’s proposed 2017 -2018 Capital and Operating Budgets,” says Blackwell. “The budget review process is one of the most important responsibilities of the Metro Council and it also gives a thorough understanding of how all of the Metro agencies and departments work together.”
Representatives of MSD will also be on hand to give a presentation of their plan to repair and replace important infrastructure over the next two decades.
MSD’s 20-year Critical Repair and Reinvestment Plan covers critical risks in six areas:
- Ohio River flood protection system
- Stormwater drainage and inland flooding
- Viaducts
- Crumbling sewer infrastructure
- Wastewater treatment facilities
- Consent decree and support systems
The next District 12 Dialogue will be held at 6:00 pm at the Southwest Government Center Courtroom, 7219 Dixie Highway.
There will also be representatives from LMPD and Codes and Regulations to help constituents address specific concerns or problems.
For more information about the May District 12 Dialogue, contact Councilman Blackwell’s office at 574-1112.