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The Louisville Metro Office of Sustainability and the Louisville Sustainability Council (LSC) will co-host the fifth annual Sustainability Summit on Friday, Oct. 19, at the University of Louisville’s newly renovated Student Activities Center.
The Summit will feature local and national speakers and give attendees a chance to discover successes, identify opportunities, and creatively learn from each other about how to create a culture of sustainability in Louisville.
“For the health of our residents and our city, we must work together to embed sustainability in all aspects of our lives,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Please join the 2018 Sustainability Summit to engage with local leaders and stakeholders on how we can integrate sustainability into our community.”
The keynote speaker of the event will be David Orr, PhD, the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies & Politics, Emeritus at Oberlin College. Orr is the author of eight books, including Dangerous Years: Climate Change and the Long Emergency (Yale, 2016) and Down to the Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse (Oxford, 2009). The title of the keynote address is “The (Missing) Politics in Environmental and Sustainability Education.”
“This year’s summit will help call attention to creating a culture of sustainability, which is inextricably linked to a healthy economy and reduced carbon emissions” said Maria Koetter, Director of the Office of Sustainability. “From national experts to local practitioners, the event aims to engage citizens and generate conversations that will help cultivate a culture of sustainability.”
Emily Chandler, Executive Director of the Louisville Sustainability Council, said, “The summit is our annual opportunity to gather together under one roof as concerned individuals, nonprofit organizations, school groups, faith-based groups and sustainability professionals from the public and private sectors. It is a day for celebration, collaboration and exploration that cannot be missed if you are concerned about creating a culture of sustainability in Louisville, Kentucky.”
The event also features local speakers, including University of Louisville president Dr. Neeli Bendapudi, along with a facilitated community discussion titled “Creating the Future in Your Space Through a Culture of Sustainability.”
Summit attendees also have the opportunity to go on one of four sustainability-related tours through different areas of the U of L campus, including the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research and the new LEED Gold Belknap Academic Building.
The 2018 Sustainability Summit is proud to receive support from its Patron Sponsors: Yum! Brands and Humana; as well as its Summit Friend Sponsors: Brown-Forman, CMTA, PNC Bank, and Aramark; and its Supporting Sponsors: the UofL Sustainability Council, Festival of Faiths, Copper & Kings, WestRock, Harshaw Trane, K. Norman Berry Associates, Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District, the Partnership for a Green City, TARC, UPS, Spalding Design, and Stantec.
At the day of the event, standard tickets will be $40 for Louisville Sustainability Council members and $75 for non-members. (There also is a lunchless ticket option that costs only $15.)
To register before the event, visit http://louisvillesustainabilitycouncil.org/2018-sustainability-summit/more-information-registration/
The Louisville, Kentucky Metro Government was recognized as the 2018 Green Leadership City, a distinction awarded by the Propane Education & Research Council, a Washington, D.C.-based national non-profit organization. The award recognizes the city for its adoption of clean, propane-powered mowers, among other environmentally-friendly programs that support the city’s highly-regarded sustainability plan.
Mayor Greg Fischer accepted a $5,000 donation from PERC at a celebration event at Sun Valley Park with city officials and Parks & Recreation Department employees, who operate the propane mowers regularly.
“The Green Leadership City Award highlights public agencies demonstrating a commitment to environmentally-friendly and sustainable practices, which the city of Louisville has shown by adding propane mowers to its municipal equipment fleet,” said Jeremy Wishart, director of off-road business development for PERC. “Louisville has set an incredible example for the rest of the region of what a municipality can accomplish when it decides that its environmental impact matters and takes necessary steps to reduce its carbon footprint.”
Earlier this year, Louisville added 11 propane mowers to its Metro Fleet Division, with plans to continue transitioning to propane equipment as the city’s 68 remaining gasoline mowers wear out. Compared to gasoline mowers, using propane reduces greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (NOx), and sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions, which contributes to a healthier local environment.
According to the city, it will also cost approximately 25 percent less to operate a propane mower over the life of the unit because of the lower cost of propane.
“Propane mowers help us improve upon our long-term sustainability goals as a city while also being prudent with the taxpayer’s money,” said Greg Fischer, Louisville mayor. “Anytime we can make operational changes that improve the community’s quality of life while saving on costs is a win-win.”
The propane mowers are used by five departments that manage grass growth on city properties as well as vacant and abandoned private properties, including the Louisville Zoo, the Vacant Lots Division of Codes & Regulations, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and the Metro Facilities Division.
Because of their lower emissions profile, propane mowers allow city crews to continue mowing on Air Quality Alert Days, when mowing with both commercial and residential gasoline equipment is discouraged to avoid adding to ground-level pollution.
To learn more about propane mowers, visit propane.com/commercial-landscape.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio announced today that Kevin C. Brown, an attorney with extensive experience with education and administrative law in Kentucky, has been named the district’s general counsel. Brown most recently served as associate commissioner and general counsel for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). Brown joins JCPS on November 1 and is the latest hire as part of Dr. Pollio’s restructuring to reflect best practice urban school districts across the country.
“Kevin Brown is a leading expert on education law in this region and the right person to guide our district through legal questions and provide expertise on a variety of matters,” Dr. Pollio said. “His background as associate commissioner and general counsel for KDE will be tremendous for JCPS. With Brown’s addition, we continue to build one of the top school district leadership teams in the country.”
Brown joined KDE in 2004 as staff attorney and assistant general counsel. He transitioned to general counsel in 2008 and associate commissioner two years later. As associate commissioner, Brown managed and supervised various offices and divisions, served as a congressional liaison and as a member of the commissioner of education’s senior leadership team. During his career at KDE, Brown oversaw state processes involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), provided legal guidance in support of the requirements of the federal Child and Adult Care Food program, and coordinated the promulgation of administrative regulations for the Kentucky Board of Education. Brown served as Kentucky’s federal liaison for the Council for Chief State School Officers. Before joining KDE, Brown served as an assistant attorney general in the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General.
“I’m excited to join the leadership team being assembled by Dr. Pollio and the board,” Brown said. “What’s clear is that Superintendent Pollio is serious about transforming education in our largest school district. I look forward to playing a role in that transformation by supporting the district through legal guidance and counsel.”
Brown graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2001 and received a bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University. He is a member of the National Council of State Education Attorneys and the Kentucky State Government Bar Association.
The creation of the general counsel position was among the recommendations from the Council of the Great City Schools’ organizational review of JCPS. Dr. Pollio called for the review to improve the district’s organizational coherence.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
The holidays are just around the corner and before long everyone will be out shopping and getting the decorations ready for another festive season. But it’s also the time when crime is on the rise and the potential exists for fire hazards if you don’t know how to protect yourself.
The next South Central Regional Forum will focus on how you can make the holidays safe with help from the Louisville Metro Police’s Seventh Division and the Okolona Fire Department.
“This forum will be a reminder for everyone of what you need to be aware of when you are shopping for holiday gifts,” says Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D-24). “The hustle and bustle of the season can be a time when we forget about the safety.”
The forum is set for October 17th at the new South Central Regional Library at 7400 Jefferson Boulevard from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Russ Miller and Dale Gallagher, Resources Officers with the LMPD Seventh Division, will make presentations on staying safe for the holidays. The Okolona Fire Department will talk about how to keep the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations safe and prevent fire hazards. All questions will be answered.
As always, Code Enforcement Officers will be on hand to answer property maintenance questions.
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).
For more information about this South Central Regional Forum, contact Councilwoman Flood’s office at 574-1124.
Louisville Parks and Recreation has been selected for a Great Urban Parks Campaign grant by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Louisville Parks and Recreation is one of 10 organizations awarded the grant, which supports the development of green stormwater infrastructure.
Green stormwater infrastructure in parks offer an effective way to positively impact environmental and social change, especially within underserved communities. Projects can mitigate the effects of climate-related weather events, improve community health, increase access to green space and nature, and provide opportunities for education, employment and social inclusion. By empowering local residents through meaningful community engagement, projects can address community needs while meeting local stormwater management goals. The grant award issued to Louisville Parks and Recreation will be used to restore the pond in Chickasaw Park.
“There are practical reasons why this work needs to take place in Chickasaw Park, but most importantly, this turns the pond into a recreation amenity for families to enjoy,” Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose said. “We are thankful to NRPA for selecting Louisville Parks and Recreation, and are eager to get started on the project.”
“We are excited to see the positive impacts these green infrastructure projects will have in their communities,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA’s Director of Conservation. “Utilizing parks to mitigate flooding and other climate-related weather impacts is a critical strategy in protecting neighborhoods. We know from our past work that these projects also offer a multitude of benefits beyond environmental ones including improved community health, park access, and social cohesion. We’re looking forward to seeing those impacts multiply with these upcoming projects.”
The Great Urban Parks Campaign aims to demonstrate the social and environmental benefits of green stormwater infrastructure in underserved communities — including increased public access to recreational opportunities and access to nature via parks.
The Supreme Court of Kentucky will convene Oct. 25-26 in Frankfort to hear oral arguments in cases that originated in Campbell, Daviess, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson and Knox counties. Proceedings are open to the public and will take place in the Supreme Court Courtroom on the second floor of the state Capitol at 700 Capitol Ave. in Frankfort.
The public may also observe oral arguments via the Supreme Court livestream on the Kentucky Court of Justice website. Oral arguments are available online as they occur in real time and are not available as archives.
The Supreme Court is the state court of last resort and the final interpreter of Kentucky law. Seven justices sit on the Supreme Court and all seven justices rule on appeals that come before the court. The justices are elected from seven appellate districts and serve eight-year terms. A chief justice, chosen for a four-year term by fellow justices, is the administrative head of the state’s court system and is responsible for its operation. The Supreme Court may order a ruling or opinion to be published, which means that the ruling becomes the case law governing all similar cases in the future in Kentucky.
THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2018
9 AM
2017-SC-000441-DG
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY V. MICHAEL PADGETT
2017-SC-000661-DG
MICHAEL PADGETT V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
“Criminal Law. Mistrial. Double Jeopardy. Issues involve a pretrial ruling and whether the trial court abused discretion in declaring a mistrial after defense counsel’s perceived violation of that ruling.”
Discretionary Review granted 12/7/2017 and 2/7/2018
Daviess Circuit Court, Judge Joseph W. Castlen, III
Attorney for Appellant/Cross-Appellee: Thomas Allen Van De Rostyne
Attorney for Appellee/Cross-Appellant: Emily Holt Rhorer and Shannon Dupree
10 AM
2017-SC-000596-DG
LEE COMLEY V. AUTO-OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
“Insurance Law. Homeowners Coverage. The issues, involving potential coverage for damage to a home resulting from a nearby water main break, concern the scope of the “water damage” exclusions as to “water below the surface of the ground . . . which . . . flows, seeps or leaks through any part of a building” and as to “regardless of the cause . . . flood.”
Discretionary Review granted 3/14/2018
Fayette Circuit Court, Judge Thomas L. Clark
Attorneys for Appellant: Stephen M. O’Brien, III, Bruce Clark Batten, II, and David Coomer
Attorneys for Appellee: Luke Alan Wingfield and John Carter
11 AM
2017-SC-000274-DG
LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT V. T+C CONTRACTING, INC.
“Contract. Fairness in Construction Act. KRS 371.405. Issues include whether the dispute resolution provisions in the parties’ contract, which deem the contractor’s claim for additional compensation from MSD waived if certain procedural requirements are not met, violate the Fairness in Construction Act.”
Discretionary Review granted 3/14/2018
Jefferson Circuit Court, Judge James M. Shake
Attorneys for Appellant: Kenneth Allen Bohnert, Richard M. Sullivan and Jennifer Fust-Rutherford
Attorney for Appellee: Gerald Lee Stovall
FRIDAY, OCT. 26, 2018
9 AM
2017-SC-000203-DG
SHANNON JONES, ET AL. V. DAVID WAYNE BAILEY
2017-SC-000604-DG
DAVID WAYNE BAILEY V. SHANNON JONES, ET AL.
“Parole Board. Entitlement to Assistance of Counsel. The issues include whether the final post-incarceration sex offender supervision revocation hearing is a “critical stage” of the proceeding, triggering entitlement to assistance of counsel.”
Discretionary Review granted 10/25/2017 and 12/7/2017
Franklin Circuit Court, Judge Thomas D. Wingate
Attorney for Appellants/Cross-Appellees: Angela Turner Dunham
Attorney for Appellee/Cross-Appellant: Timothy G. Arnold
10 AM
2017-SC-000348-DG
BARBARA SMITH V. BONNIE SMITH
“Torts. Personal Injury. Slip and Fall. Issues include whether the status of a visitor as an invitee or licensee or trespasser continues to define the scope of the property owner’s duty to the visitor.”
Discretionary Review granted 3/14/2018
Knox Circuit Court, Judge Gregory Allen Lay
Attorneys for Appellant: Michael D. Risley, Darrell L. Saunders and Bethany A. Breetz
Attorneys for Appellee: Brien Glenn Freeman, Todd Kevin Childers and Aaron Howard
11 AM
2017-SC-000340-DG
RAYMOND HAYES, ET AL. V. D.C.I. PROPERTIES-D. KY, LLC, ET AL.
“Torts. Personal Injury. Trespasser. Attractive Nuisance. Issues include whether the 16-year-old plaintiff can recover for injuries sustained when he trespassed on the defendant’s construction site.”
Discretionary Review granted 4/18/2018
Campbell Circuit Court, Judge Fred A. Stine, V.
Attorney for Appellants: Anthony McIntosh
Attorney for D.C.I. Properties-D. KY, LLC: James Moberly West
Attorney for The Nelson Stark Company: Mark MacDonald
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
With the change of seasons and cooler temperatures it won’t be long before winter returns to Metro Louisville. Some children will need help staying warm this year and that is why Councilman David Yates (D-25) is once again asking the community to help “Coat a Kid” this coming Monday, October 15th.
“Last year, with the generous help of the people of our community, we were able to provide some 300 new coats to JCPS Students across our city,” says Yates. “The need is still great and this year we offer a fun way to help out.”
Working with the Shirley’s Way Queen of Hearts Drawing on Monday, October 15th, Councilman Yates is asking for new coats for JCPS students in need. The Queen of Hearts Drawing is set for Khalil’s, 10966 Dixie Highway.
The Queen of Hearts Drawing is a massively successful charitable event that supports Shirley’s Way, a great local Valley Station non-profit that benefits families struggling to pay bills or pay for groceries when a family member is suffering from cancer.
The Councilman has secured the donation of a new flat screen TV that will be raffled off to members of our community that donate the following to the “Coat a Kid” Drive:
- NEW Coats
- NEW Gloves & NEW Scarves
- Minimum $25 Donation for JCPS Clothing Program
The raffle will take place between 8:00pm and 8:30pm.
“I am proud of our community’s previous generosity and I look forward to another successful event to help children in our area. I hope everyone can attend and bring along a new coat,” says Yates.
For more information about this year’s “Coat a Kid” event, contact Councilman Yates office at 574-1125.