Archive for the ‘News’ Category

UPDATE!!!

Metro Council Resolution Filed Regarding E.On Request for New Fees and Higher Usage Rates

Metro Councilman Kelly Downard (District 16) along with Hal Heiner (District 19), Jim King (District 10), David Tandy (District 4) and Doug Hawkins (District 25) have filed a resolution asking the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Public Service Commission to deny E.On AG’s request to impose new fees and higher usage rates for its customers until the matter of the sale of E.On’s North American Operations can be determined.

“At this point in time, a rate increase does not make sense,” said Councilman Hawkins. “Residents can barely afford to pay utility bills as it is already. A rate increase would not benefit anyone but E.On in this situation.”

The Resolution will receive its first reading at the Thursday, March 11 2009 meeting of the Louisville Metro Council. The resolution is expected to be sent to the Transportation & Public Works Committee for review.

Last week’s email

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

LG&E Rate Increase

How customers can register a complaint

An article in the Courier-Journal announced that LG&E wants to change the way it bills customers for gas and electric.  Instead of charging by the amount of gas a home uses, LG&E wants to charge a higher flat fee rate of $26.53 to deliver gas to its customers.  In addition, LG&E wants to triple its electric residential customer charge from $5.00 to $15.00.

Our office has received numerous calls from constituents wanting to know how to register a complaint against LG&E’s proposed rate changes.  Complaints can be sent to the Kentucky Public Service Commission and to the Attorney General.  Please reference “Case Number 2009-00549” in your correspondence so it will be properly recorded with the correct case.

The Public Service Commission and Attorney General prefer to receive written letters; however, I have included all means of registering a complaint for your convenience.

Kentucky Public Service Commission

o    Via the PSC website at http://psc.ky.gov/cis/inquiry.aspx

o    Call the PSC Complaint Hotline at 1-800-772-4636

o     E-mail – Attorney.General@ag.ky.gov

o     Fax 502-564-7397

o   Mail your complaint to:
Kentucky Public Service Commission
Attn: Executive Director Jeff DeRouen
P.O. Box 615
Frankfort, KY 40602

Don’t forget to include “Case Number 2009-00549” when filing your complaint.

Kentucky Attorney General

o   Call the AG at 1-502-696-5300

o   E-mail heather.kash@ag.ky.gov

o   Mail your complaint to:

Jack Conway Conway

Kentucky Attorney General

Office of Rate Intervention

1024 Capital Center Drive Suite 200

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Don’t forget to include “Case Number 2009-00549” when filing your complaint.

Click here to read the full article, LG&E rate change could hit low energy users more than others by Patrick Howington

Public Input Sought on Proposed Service Cuts for June

TARC is proposing to make additional service cuts June 6 in order to make up a budget shortfall projected for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Due to reduced occupational taxes and increased expenses, TARC is expecting a shortfall of about $5 million and is considering eliminating service on up to 20 routes and reducing service on another 17 routes.

“We are not anywhere near the level of service that Louisville needs. We’ve got overcrowding that we’re not able to respond to and folks out there who depend on TARC to get to their jobs,” said TARC Director J. Barry Barker. “Our situation is critical and we are working everyday to find the funds to keep as much service on the street as possible.”

The cuts proposed for June are in addition to those that took effect Sunday, Feb. 21.

TARC is soliciting public comment on the new proposals through March 11. Feedback can be sent to TARC by emailing info@ridetarc.org, or by calling 561-5112. The mailing address is TARC, Union Station, 1000 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203.

Those wishing to discuss the changes and get more information about how they will be affected are invited to attend public hearings. The days and dates are as follows:

Tuesday, March 9
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
TARC Union Station
1000 W. Broadway

5 to 7 p.m.
Americana Community Center
4801 Southside Dr.

Wednesday March 10
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bon Air Library
2816 Del Rio Place

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
New Albany – Floyd County Public Library
180 West Spring St.
New Albany, IN

5 to 7 p.m.
East End Government Center
200 Juneau Dr.

Thursday March 11
5 to 7 p.m.
TARC Union Station
1000 W. Broadway

At the TARC Board of Directors meeting of Feb. 22, the following service reductions were proposed:

Routes proposed for elimination:
#1 – Fourth Street Trolley
#12 – Twelfth Street
#22 – Twenty-Second Street
#35 – Indian Trail-Hikes Lane
#37X – Iroquois-Fairdale Express
#38X – Deering Express
#45X – Okolona Express
#49X – Westport Road
#50X – Dixie Express
#53X – Breckenridge Express
#54X – Manslick Express
#58 – Bashford Manor-Oxmoor
#59 – River Road
#61X – Plainview
#64X -  Fincastle-Forest Springs Express
#66X – Mount Washington Express
#68X – Prospect Express
#73X – Charlestown Road Express
#75 – Bluegrass Industrial Shuttle
#80 – Hurstbourne Parkway

Routes proposed for frequency reduction, shortened service or routing change:
#2 – Second Street
#4 – Fourth Street
#6 – Sixth Street
#17 – Bardstown Road
#18 – Preston-18th
#19 – Muhammad Ali
#21 – Chestnut Street
#23 – Broadway
#25 – Oak Street
#27 – Hill Street
#29 – Eastern Parkway
#31 – Middletown
#40X – Jeffersontown Express
#52 – Medical Center Circulator
#62 – Breckenridge-Shepherdsville
#67X – Oldham I-71 Express
#72 – Clarksville-New Albany
#77 – Main-Market Trolley
#78X – Downtown/Bluegrass Express

A detailed list of the proposed changes is posted on TARC’s website.

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of information in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Language translators will also be provided upon request. Please call 561-5112 or 561-5115 with specific information on your needs.

How customers can register a complaint

An article in the Courier-Journal announced that LG&E wants to change the way it bills customers for gas and electric.  Instead of charging by the amount of gas a home uses, LG&E wants to charge a higher flat fee rate of $26.53 to deliver gas to its customers.  In addition, LG&E wants to triple its electric residential customer charge from $5.00 to $15.00.

Our office has received numerous calls from constituents wanting to know how to register a complaint against LG&E’s proposed rate changes.  Complaints can be sent to the Kentucky Public Service Commission and to the Attorney General.  Please reference “Case Number 2009-00549” in your correspondence so it will be properly recorded with the correct case.

The Public Service Commission and Attorney General prefer to receive written letters; however, I have included all means of registering a complaint for your convenience.

Kentucky Public Service Commission

o    Via the PSC website at http://psc.ky.gov/cis/inquiry.aspx

o    Call the PSC Complaint Hotline at 1-800-772-4636

o    E-mail the Public Information Officer at psc.info@ky.gov

o    Fax – 502-564-7397

o   Mail your complaint to:
Kentucky Public Service Commission
Attn: Executive Director Jeff DeRouen
P.O. Box 615
Frankfort, KY 40602

Don’t forget to include “Case Number 2009-00549” when filing your complaint.

Kentucky Attorney General

o   Call the AG at 1-502-696-5300

o   E-mail heather.cash@ag.ky.gov

o   Mail your complaint to:

Jack Conway Conway

Kentucky Attorney General

Office of Rate Intervention

1024 Capital Center Drive Suite 200

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Don’t forget to include “Case Number 2009-00549” when filing your complaint.

Click here to read the full article, LG&E rate change could hit low energy users more than others by Patrick Howington

Councilman Hawkins is proud to have the next major investment in this community planned for District 25 and the Southwest Region of Jefferson County.  “We have fought to have money set aside in previous budgets for the study and eventual construction of new libraries, and this announcement affirms the fact that Metro can invest in new libraries by re-evaluating our priorities. I will continue to fight to get more funds for this Regional Library and to ensure that the other projects listed in the Master Plan are also implemented,” said Hawkins.

The planning for the Southwest Regional Library is coming despite slow economic times – this bodes well for the Master Plan when the economy turns around and when much of our debt is retired in the coming couple years.

There will be a public comment segment in the planning and design of the Southwest Regional Library.  Councilman Hawkins will work to keep residents informed on the planning and encourages the public to participate in the public comment meetings once they are announced.

In 2007, Louisville Metro Government purchased four acres of land behind Tumbleweed Restaurant in the 9800 block of Dixie Highway to build a new regional library.  The new library site can also be accessed off Kendall Road adjacent to Meijer’s.

The mayor will give a Minneapolis architectural firm $1.75 million to draft some of the plans. The same out of state architectural firm designed the new Newburg Regional Library pictured below.

Click here to read Sheldon Shafer’s article, Southwest library to be designed.

Metro Animal Services Waives Late Fees During February

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day Metro Animal Services (MAS) wants to help animal lover’s express their love by giving pets and their owners a gift. MAS is waiving the licensing late fees for cats, dogs and ferrets whose licenses have either lapsed or have never been purchased. Late fees can range from $47.50 for altered animals to $195.00 for unaltered animals. Waiving these fees will save pet owners a lot money and is an opportunity not to be missed! The fees will be waived from February 1 – 28, and will only be waived for individuals who license their animals using the online licensing tool available at www.louisvilleky.gov/animalservices. The online tool charges a $3 processing fee.  Licensing fees will not be waived for those licenses purchased by mail, walk-in or at veterinary offices.

The MAS online pet licensing application allows Louisville residents to go online and obtain a new or renewed animal license in a quick and secure online transaction. The application was developed in partnership with Louisville Metro Government and Kentucky Interactive, a Frankfort-based company which runs Kentucky.gov, the official website for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Maintaining a current pet license is one of the most basic responsibilities of owning a pet. “A license can be a pet’s only form of communication. It is one of the most obvious ways of telling someone who they belong to,” said Jackie Gulbe, assistant director for community relations. “It insures that if a pet were lost, it would be sheltered in a safe environment and its needs would be met until it was claimed by the owner. People should think of a license as a donation toward an insurance policy.”

FIVE-DAY CITIZENS TRIBUTE TO HONOR FALLEN VETERANS, LAW ENFORCEMENT & FIREFIGHTERS DURING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

VOLUNTEERS & SPONSORS (Kid Friendly Event) NEEDED

THURSDAY, MAY 27, THROUGH MONDAY, MAY 31

Over a five-day period hundreds of Volunteers are needed to place 35,000 flags to honor our Fallen Heroes.  10,000 U.S. Flags will be placed in the Jefferson Square Flag Field, on the corner of Sixth and Jefferson, and 25,000 more flags will be used to create the letters “USA” on the Great Lawn at the Waterfront.  These Louisville Flags will go on to decorate the graves of U.S. Veterans around the World in all eleven countries.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN LOUISVILLE: ( Please Email or Call NOW )

Individuals & Groups may Volunteer between 9 AM and 7 PM

Flag Placers and Flag Tenders

On-Site Staff for Admin & Info Tent

Photographer & Videographer Needed

Volunteer Overnight Security for flags, 5 nights, 2 locations

SPONSORS NEEDED: ( Please Email or Call NOW )

Sponsor 1,000 Grave Flags for $1,000  (We need 35,000 Grave Flags)

Help feed our Volunteers, they will be downtown for five days

Overnight security for flags, 5 nights, 2 locations

JEFFERSON SQUARE EVENT Thursday, May 27 to Monday, May 31

To honor All Kentucky and Indiana Fallen Heroes. Flags4Vets Volunteers will start placing grave flags in Jefferson Square at 10 am on Thursday, May 27, and continue through Friday, until 10,000 flags have been placed.  These flags honor all Fallen Heroes from Kentucky, including Military, Law Enforcement, and Firefighters.  Volunteers are needed to place flags and to provide security for all of the flags and equipment.

WATERFRONT EVENT Saturday, May 29 through Monday, May 31

To honor All of America’s Living & Fallen Heroes. Volunteers will form the letters “USA” using 25,000 flags from Veterans’ graves.  When completed, the letters will each be 150 feet high and all three letters together will spread across one and a half football fields.  These 25,000 flags honor all of America’s Living & Fallen Heroes, from every State in the Union, including Military, Law Enforcement, and Firefighters.  This event will culminate with a Memorial Day Observance.  Volunteers are needed to place flags and to provide security for flags and equipment.

Email:  moore@theUSflag.com or  Call:  (502)-931-0374

Frederick Moore, MBA, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Flags4Vets

National Flags for Veterans’ Graves Program

(502) 931-0374

www.Flags4Vets.com

Doss High School Students Job Shadow AT&T Kentucky President and Employees in $100 Million Effort to Reduce School Drop-Out Rate

With 1.2 million American students dropping out of high school every year, AT&T * and Junior Achievement today announced the next phase of the AT&T / JA Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative. Approximately 60 students from Doss High School will participate in a local job shadowing session today with AT&T Kentucky President Mary Pat Regan and several other local employees.

The event is part of a multimillion dollar, multiyear job shadow program to help strengthen student success and workforce readiness. High school students “shadow” AT&T employees during their regular work day to see the educational background and skills they will need to succeed on the job.

“As a retired high school principal and vice chair of the House Education Committee, I know firsthand how important job shadowing is to our young people,” said State Rep. Charles Miller. “This partnership between our business, education and community leaders provides a great opportunity for learning and gives students a look into what it takes to make it in the workforce.”

“Doss High School is in my district and I want nothing more than to see these students succeed,” said Louisville Metro Councilman Doug Hawkins. “When students see how hard work in the classroom can pay off in the real world, it gives them added incentive to graduate and continue working toward their dreams.”

Recent findings from a report evaluating students who participated in the first year of the AT&T / JA Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative show the program is making an impact and changing attitudes about staying in school:

• All students felt that it is important to graduate from high school, and ninety-nine percent felt confident in their ability to do so months after participating in the program.
• Eighty-nine percent of students felt that participating in Job Shadow made them realize the importance of staying in school.
• Ninety-four percent indicated that they had improved their ability to set goals as a result of Job Shadow and 90 percent reported that they utilized this skill months after the program.
• Ninety-four percent agreed that their ability to identify occupations that interest them had improved as a result of Job Shadow and ninety-two percent had researched careers that interest them months after the program.

“We applaud Rep. Miller, Councilman Hawkins and Junior Achievement for all the work they do to help students succeed in the classroom and the workforce,” said Mary Pat Regan, president of AT&T Kentucky. “This is all about giving students more of the tools that they need to compete for good jobs.”

Jack E. Kosakowski, president of Junior Achievement USA, noted, “Job shadowing not only provides students with valuable workplace experience, it provides them with mentoring and role models. These experiences help prepare our young people to effectively compete with their peers from the U.S. and around the world as the global economy becomes increasingly interdependent and interconnected.”

“This opportunity to job shadow will help our students make career decisions and better prepare them for the workforce,” said Doss High School Principal Glenn Baete. “Job shadowing is a great way to learn and we are glad to have this opportunity available to our students.”

Many of the students dropping out of high school are dropping out despite the fact they have passing grades.  They simply don’t see the relevance of their school work today to their future life success.

That’s why the $5.5 million Job Shadow initiative is a key pillar of the AT&T Aspire program, one of the largest-ever corporate commitments to high school retention and workforce readiness. It provides a chance for students to explore potential future careers and connect classroom learning to real life opportunities.

The initiative is committed to reaching 100,000 high school students over five years. During the 2008-2009 school year, over 13,000 students in over 100 cities participated in the initiative.

For more information, contact:

Mike Marker

AT&T Public Affairs

317-989-7152

mm8963@att.com

Energy Management Workshops

Watch Video!

Project Warm’s “Do-It-Yourself” Workshops, made possible with funding from LG&E-E.ON U.S. and Metro Louisville Government, help families take more control of their LG&E usage.  Attendees leave with the knowledge & the supplies to take simple, effective energy-saving actions at home

• Learn quick and easy energy saving tips.
• Get a demo of how to install interior plastic storm window covers to seal out drafts and make your home more comfortable.
• Find out how to better manage your energy costs and stop losing money this winter.
• Get a FREE Weatherization Kit to seal-up all the air leaks in your home!

IMPORTANT:

• Workshops are free but registration is required.
• Register by calling host site BEFORE workshop: leave message with name & phone.  You will then be registered. You will only be called back if the schedule changes.
• Workshops start on time. Supplies will be distributed at end of workshop.
• Check for updates or cancellations here (www.projectwarm.org) or call us at 636-WARM (9276).

Interested in hosting a Energy Management Workshop?

Please download this registration packet and return to the Project Warm office.

If you have any questions, call us at (502) 636-9276 or e-mail frank@projectwarm.org.

Upcoming Workshops (more coming soon!)

JANUARY 2010		Time	Location	Address	Zip Code	Call to Register
MON	Jan. 11	6:00PM	Farnsley Community School	3400 Lees Lane	40216	448-9799
TUES	Jan. 12	6:30PM	Cochran Elementary School	500 W. Gaulbert Ave.	40203	485-8844
THURS	Jan. 14	6:30PM	Fairdale Community School	1001 Fairdale Road	40118	485-8100
FRI	Jan. 15	10:30AM	LG&E (E.On) LOBBY	820 W. Broadway	40202	636-9276
FRI	Jan. 15	12:15PM	LG&E (E.On) LOBBY	820 W. Broadway	40202	636-9276
WED	Jan. 20	6:00PM	Southwest Community Ministries	9800 Stonestreet Road	40272	935-0310
MON	Jan. 25	1:00PM	Rangeland Elementary FRC	1701 Rangeland Road	40219	485-8113
TUES	Jan. 26	6:30PM	Cane Run Elementary FRC	3951 Cane Run Road	40211	485-8193

Scholarship Applications

Valley Woman’s Club scholarship applications for high school seniors and second year students at JCTC have been sent to the school’s counselors.

This year the club will award $1,200 to four high school seniors and to one JCTC student.

REQUIREMENTS: Must live in the 40272 zip code, show a financial need and have a minimum of a 3.0 Grade Point Average.

Applications must be obtained from your school counselor.  Applications with all completed information, letter of recommendation, and a transcript MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2010.

All necessary information can be found on the application.

KYTC Crews Prepared to Battle Snow

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) road crews in the Louisville area are prepared for the snow that is predicted to fall across the region on Thursday morning.  Maintenance personnel have been watching the forecast and getting their trucks ready. State and contract crews will report to duty in advance of the winter storm.  Trucks will be dispatched to their routes and stand ready to treat the roadways when precipitation starts to fall.

District 5 personnel have the responsibility for clearing more than 2,400 miles of state-maintained highways in the counties of Bullitt, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble.  Crews are prepared to work long hours clearing any accumulation from the roadways. 156 state and contract trucks are utilized to treat the roadways in these eight counties with 70 of these trucks concentrated on the interstates in Jefferson County.  Per an agreement with Louisville Metro government, the Metro Department of Public Works will be clearing snow and ice from all state routes in Jefferson County, excluding interstates.

The District 5 facilities combined have approximately 36,000 tons of salt and 140,000 gallons of liquid calcium chloride on hand to combat snow and ice this winter.

Motorists should always use extra caution when driving in winter weather and remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

Motorists should remember these tips while driving in snow and ice:

• Make sure your vehicle is sufficiently winterized – check the battery, antifreeze level, heater, defroster, wipers and windshield washer.
• Dress warmly for the weather –in layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, in anticipation of unexpected emergencies.
• Try to keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to prevent fuel line freezing and to prepare for possible lengthy delays on the roadway.
• Make sure a friend or relative is aware of your travel route.
• Carry a cell phone.
• Make sure your vehicle has an emergency care kit. It should include jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, an ice scraper, blankets, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, and traction material.
• Check the forecast and call 511 or visit 511.ky.gov for the latest condition reports before traveling. Avoid nonessential travel if conditions are dangerous.
• Drive carefully. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination. Do not use cruise control.
• Remember that bridges and exit and entrance ramps can be icy when other areas are not.
• Stopping in snow requires more braking distance than stopping on dry pavement – up to four times more distance. Make sure to put plenty of distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead.
• Be visible. Dull, cloudy days will cut down on visibility, so drive using low-beam headlights.
• Steer into the skid. Stay calm and ease your foot off the gas while carefully steering in the direction you want the front of your vehicle to go.
• During significant winter weather events, the KYTC will provide media outlets with updated road condition reports throughout the day and night.

Road conditions are described as follows:

• Wet pavement – Ice could form as temperatures drop.
• Partly covered – Markings may be obscured by snow, slush or ice.
• Mostly covered by snow, slush or ice.
• Completely covered by snow, slush or ice.
• Impassable – Conditions unsuitable for all but emergency travel.

The Kentucky SAFE Patrol – Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies – operates seven days a week on Kentucky interstates and parkways. SAFE Patrol drivers are equipped with blankets, shovels, reflective cones, auto fluids and other equipment to get motorists back on the road safely. Motorists can request SAFE Patrol by calling 1-877-FOR-KYTC (1-877-367-5982).

For up-to-date traffic and travel information, inside Kentucky dial 511 and outside Kentucky call toll free at 1-866-737-3767.  Information can also be obtained by logging onto www.511.ky.gov.