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As Louisville Metro Government works to address budget constraints caused by the increasing state pension obligation and lack of new revenue, Louisville Parks and Recreation today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for management, operation, and maintenance of its 10 golf courses.
The city is accepting proposals until October 15, when the process will be closed, and the proposals will be evaluated. Interested parties can learn more about the solicitation including deadline dates and requirements at the city’s procurement web page, https://louisvilleky.gov/purchasing. The accepted proposals may include lease, hybrid or concession options.
Louisville Parks and Recreation golf courses are Metro-owned and currently managed independently by PGA professionals whose contracts expire at the end of 2019 – except for Quail Chase where the contract expires December 31, 2024. The state alcoholic beverage licenses for the PGA professionals expire at the end of October.
Deed restrictions on the golf course properties ensure that nine of the 10 Metro-owned golf courses must remain public spaces and used for recreational purposes, meaning that they will not be turned over for commercial or real-estate development. Bobby Nichols Golf Course in southwest Louisville is the only course with no such restriction.
The city issued a request for information (RFI) this spring to gauge interest and gather ideas for use of Metro’s golf course properties. The responses to the RFI helped in the development of the RFP being released today.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION GOLF:
Louisville’s 10 public golf courses offer a quality golfing experience at some of the most affordable prices in the nation. Each course has its own unique character, and some consistently rank among Kentucky’s best and most challenging courses. The 10 municipally-owned golf courses meet the needs of everyone from beginners to scratch golfers. For more information, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/golf-courses. Continue reading
Mayor Greg Fischer today helped launch the 2017 edition of the Pothole Blitz conducted annually by Metro Public Works. During the blitz, to recover from damage caused by the multiple freeze/thaw cycles of winter, Public Works crews go through the city’s streets in a grid pattern patching potholes until all roads are covered.
Mayor Fischer noted that the number of potholes is expected to continue a decline begun last year thanks to increased investment in paving and consecutive mild winters. Potholes peaked at 171,000 in 2015 following years of deferred road maintenance and a rough winter. But they are expected to total less than 50,000 in 2017.
Potholes can be reported to Metro Public Works here and other drivers can be warned and pothole information can be shared on the Operation Fill Louisville Potholes Facebook page.
The Mayor and Metro Council boosted spending on paving from just $2.8 million in 2014 up to $20.9 million in 2016. As a result, the number of miles paved increased from 26 in 2014 to 131 in 2016. Newly repaved roads are less susceptible to the formation of potholes.
Also this year, Public Works is adding $250,000 worth of new equipment that will help patch potholes faster and more effectively. For instance, vibrating walk-behind plate compactors are replacing handheld compactors to do a better job of pressing newly laid asphalt into place.
Mayor Fischer urged citizens to participate in the blitz by reporting potholes to MetroCall in one of three easy ways. Those using the social network Twitter can use the hashtag 502pothole. Include the hashtag along with the address or nearest intersection of the pothole location in any tweet, and MetroCall will get the message.
The same goes for a pothole reporting form that can be found at the top of the city website, Louisvilleky.gov. Click on the “Report a pothole” link, put in the location information and press send. “We believe government works best in collaboration with citizens,” the Mayor said. “The Twitter and website reporting tools are just another way to make city government even more responsive and easy to work with.” People can also call MetroCall at 311 or 574-5000. The 502pothole hashtag and the online form offer the advantage of avoiding the potential for having to wait on hold on the telephone.
Public Works patches potholes on Metro Government maintained roads. Potholes on interstate highways should be reported to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at 1-877-For-KYTC (367-5982).
Jefferson County PVA Tony Lindauer and Metro Council representatives will host a community meeting tonight from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Southwest Regional Library located at 9725 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40272.
The PVA community meetings are part of a broader strategy by Jefferson County PVA Tony Lindauer to keep the community informed by disseminating important information on the local real estate market and to provide transparency in the assessment process. There will be information on the upcoming 2017 PVA reassessment. Maps and sales data will be available for citizen review.
The community meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.
The city has awarded loans totaling nearly $168,000 to nine small businesses to help them renovate or expand. The loans have been awarded by Louisville Forward Economic Development’s Metropolitan Business Development Corporation (METCO) and the Department of Community Services’ Microbusiness Development Program.
METCO loans have been awarded to the following businesses:
- Two loans were approved for Pointe Havens, LLC for its property located at 1600 Story Avenue. The loans will allow the owner to improve the façade of the building and make interior improvements to prepare the space for future commercial usage.
- $53,824 façade loan
- $40,000 KEOZ loan
- $34,286 energy efficiency loan was approved for Jackie Green and Cindy Baker for their property located at 2833 South 4th Street. The loan will allow the owners to place solar panels on the roof of the building. The addition of solar panels will help reduce energy consumption and lower the energy cost.
Microbusiness loans have been awarded to the following businesses:
- $15,000 loan to Trimen Solutions, LLC dba Trimen Career Placement Services located at 332 West Broadway, Suite 605. The loan will allow the owner, TraShaun Spencer, to expand services and assist with insurance, computer software and marketing.
- $5,000 loan to Mimi The Tax Lady, a start-up business offering full tax services, located at 1153 ½ South Second Street. The loan will allow the owner, Tamika Reed, to operate her business with purchase of equipment and computer software.
- $5,000 loan to Flex Bill, LLC, a start-up medical billing business privately owned by Roselena McGruder. The loan will help with the purchase of computer software, insurance and inventory for business operations.
- $5,000 loan to Pure Polish, a start-up residential and commercial green cleaning service. The loan will allow the owner, Andrea Moran, to purchase equipment and inventory.
- $5,000 loan to Oasis T. Shirts, a start-up t-shirt and graphic design business. The loan will help the owner, Orlando Sisney, purchase supplies, inventory and equipment.
- $3,000 loan to An Angels Touch, a start-up business in janitorial services. The loan will allow the owner, Bryanna Thomas, to purchase equipment and supplies.
- $1,500 loan to The Glory Shoppe, which started in 2016 as an Etsy on-line shop for purchasing handcrafted home décor. This loan will allow the owner, JoAnn Jackson, to purchase supplies.
The Metropolitan Business Development Corporation (METCO) governs metro government’s small business loans, which include facade, accessibility and gap financing loans. Because metro government is not the primary lender, the loan program allows many public-private partnerships between government and private business ventures that further the vitality and quality of life in the Louisville community.
The METCO board meets the fourth Thursday of each month. Meetings are held at 9:00 a.m. at the offices of Louisville Forward, located at 444 S. 5th Street, Suite 600. Meetings for 2017 are scheduled for January 26, February 23, March 23, April 27, May 25, June 29, July 27, August 24, September 28, October 26 and December 14.
To learn more about the METCO loan program, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/louisville-forward/local-loan-programs
Louisville Metro’s Microbusiness Development Program helps low and moderate income business owners with starting and growing small businesses. A microbusiness employs five or fewer people, including the owner. The program includes training, technical assistance and an opportunity to apply for a loan.
Many microbusinesses have little or no access to the commercial banking sector, and this loan program helps businesses owners who need capital. Loans range from $500 to $15,000. Borrowers have a choice of two programs, one for businesses which have been open for at least one year, and the one for start-up businesses.
For more information about Community Services’ microbusiness program, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/community-services/microbusiness-program.
Mayor Greg Fischer announced today that Louisville Metro has been ranked a top digital city, placing in the top 10 in the Center for Digital Government’s Digital Cities Survey.
The survey takes a broad look at how cities are approaching open data, transparency, innovation, citizen services and engagement, and much more.
“Our city prides itself on its innovative and entrepreneurial culture, and this recognition as a top 10 digital city is welcome affirmation that we’re on the right track,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “We’re working to move more and more services online and to meet citizens and businesses where they are.”
In recent months, the city has hired its first data officer, launched a new open data portal, and announced plans for a Gigabit Experience Center.
“This year’s top digital cities are using technology to ensure citizens can meaningfully interact with city government more easily than in any other time in history,” said Todd Sander, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. “From open data portals to enhanced connectivity and mobile platforms, this year’s top-ranked cities are actively promoting transparency, encouraging citizen participation and making it easier for people to do business with government. Congratulations to the winners!”
This year the survey honors cities in five population classifications. Louisville placed 9th in the 500,000 or more classification:
500,000 or more population category:
- City of Los Angeles, CA
- City of Philadelphia, PA
- City of Phoenix, AZ
- City of Charlotte, NC (tie for 4th)
- City of Seattle, WA (tie for 4th)
- City of Austin, TX
- City of Albuquerque, NM
- City and County of Denver, CO
- City and County of San Francisco, CA
- City of Louisville, KY
- City of El Paso, TX
Learn more about the awards on the Digital Communities website, part of e.Republic and get highlights from the winning cities.
About Center for Digital Government
The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government.
The Center is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.
Louisville Metro Government will begin this week installing locally created, low-cost wireless smoke detectors in vacant and abandoned properties, in an innovative way to reduce fire risk.
The city’s Innovation Delivery Team is guiding this one-of-a-kind project, with support from Louisville Fire, the Vacant and Public Property Administration, and Codes & Regulations.
The smoke detectors, which use a cellular 3G wireless connection to alert authorities when a fire erupts in a vacant and abandoned property, were created through a partnership with local civic hackers. The idea is to avoid devastating fires and protect homes located nearby.
“This project represents the best of what ‘Smart City’ technology can be for Louisville,” said Grace Simrall, Chief of Civic Innovation.
“This innovative technology is the result of the local tech community and Metro Government working together to solve a real problem for residents living near vacant properties. We want innovation and technology in our community to benefit all of our residents, and this pilot project is a step in the right direction.”
Fires in vacant and abandoned properties tend to cause greater damage because they’re not reported as quickly as blazes in occupied homes. The fires often spread to neighboring occupied homes. The issue of fires in vacant and abandoned properties is particularly pronounced in Louisville Fire’s District 1, which includes parts of west Louisville.
Using Louisville Fire data, the Office of Performance Improvement & Innovation found that 44 percent of the fires in Fire District 1 that became “involved” (2 or more structures) between 2012 and 2015 started in a vacant property.
Seeing an opportunity to innovate a solution, Louisville Metro Government enlisted help from the maker space LVL1, which in turn hosted a hackathon of local civic hackers and makers.
Civic hackers Nathan Armentrout, James Gissendaner and David Jokinen developed the product and software to run it, with an end cost of $150 per smoke detector, which are expected to work for up to 10 years.
“This new, innovative tool will provide quicker alarm notifications to fires at our city’s vacant properties,” said Laura Grabowski, director of the Vacant & Public Property Administration. “With this technology, we hope to contain these fires and provide more safety for neighbors of vacant properties. This project would not be possible without the teamwork of multiple Metro departments and the civic hackers who created the wireless smoke detectors.”
Louisville residents are invited to bring unneeded documents and prescription drugs to be shredded and disposed of at a free event on October 29, 2016. The Drug Toss/Shredding Event is sponsored by Metro Public Works, Metro Police, and Metro Council.
Citizens can protect themselves from identify theft and divert unused medications from the waste stream or misuse by bringing items to:
1032 Phillips Lane, across from the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center
Saturday, October 29, 2016
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Businesses may not participate in this event. All paper materials will be shredded on site and recycled. Shredding donated by the Louisville Branch of Shred-It Louisville. The Drug Toss will be done as a drive-through event.
Black out all personal information on all medication containers that will be tossed. For safety reasons, we cannot accept sharps, needles, lances, cosmetics, personal care or hygiene items. Medication products should never be flushed down the toilet or drain, burned in the open or thrown in the trash because they can contaminate the environment if they get into the drinking and ground water.
Additional tips to prevent identity theft:
- Do not keep Social Security cards in wallet or purse
- Do not put bills or checks in home mailbox for pickup
- Check credit reports, bank statements and credit card statements often for irregularities
- Shred all documents with personal information
- Never give personal information to someone on the phone, internet or email claiming to be your bank
- Do not store credit card numbers on shopping websites
