November 1st, 2021
5th District Newsletter
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Hello Neighbors,
I hope that you and your loved ones had an enjoyable Halloween! My family and I typically host an annual gathering, but decided to celebrate a little differently this year due to COVID concerns. We joined some neighbors at the Fairway neighborhood's Halloween celebration at the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center; it was so wonderful to see so many kids dressed up and excited for the day!
We also enjoyed the Kentucky Marching Band Championships at Kroger Stadium over the weekend. It was inspiring to see so many talented young folks honing their craft and putting their skills on full display. Congratulations to all who participated and especially to Lafayette High School for taking first place!
We have certainly been busy at city hall. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds continue to be discussed, the city and Fraternal Order of Police have reached an agreement for a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the council redistricting process continues, we're awaiting an update from Kentucky Utilities, and more.
The next public meeting to discuss American Rescue Plan funds will take place tomorrow evening at 5:00pm at the Government Center. The Council will open the discussion to allow for public comment on how we can best use these once-in-a-lifetime funds. You can view our last meeting from October 26th here; the subgroups presented their recommendations for funding.
After years of negotiations, the city of Lexington and the Fraternal Order of Police have agreed to the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement. In addition to needed salary increases to improve retention and bring our pay rates to a competitive level with surrounding communities as well as a one-time premium pay bonus for working on the frontlines during the pandemic, the agreement also includes some changes to the department. Two citizens (appointed by the Mayor and approved by Council) will now serve on the disciplinary review board (in addition to other changes). This agreement represent years of work and takes bold steps to increasing trust between our officers and the public that we all serve. Please reach out to me if you have specific questions about the CBA.
The LFUCG Redistricting Committee submitted their final proposed draft of the new council districts on Friday. Public input to the committee has now ceased, so if there are changes that you would like to see to the proposed map please reach out to Councilmembers. I have very intentionally remained independent of the redistricting process because I believe that public officials who ask for votes during elections shouldn't get to decide who their voters will be. The committee heard from experts and the public during the process of crafting their proposal to balance the increases we've seen in the population across our 12 districts. The proposed boundary lines will result in the Warfield precinct (along Winchester Road) being moved to the 1st District, while we will inherit two precincts from the 7th District down Richmond Road to Man O'War Blvd. The Council will vote on the new lines later this month. Check out https://www.lexingtonky.gov/redistricting-lexington and CivicLex's website for more information on the process!
Finally, Kentucky Utilities and the city are continuing our conversations about their tree clearing policy. The Mayor asked KU to consider six reasonable requests with the full support of Council at the October 19th work session:
- Consider the potential for changes and compromise to reduce the amount of tree cutting currently taking place.
- Consider more robust revegetation on private and public property easements.
- Provide better notification to neighborhoods and neighbors when there are plans to cut trees along electrical line routes.
- Allow the City to provide input on the storm water study KU intends to conduct.
- Study the Kentucky geological survey maps for sinkhole impacts from tree cutting.
- Implement at least one 30-day moratorium on tree cutting to study and consider these requests.
We will receive an update from KU on these requests soon. I will continue to keep you posted!
Take care,
Liz
Upcoming Meetings:
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NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING TONIGHT
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My office distributed invitations to homes most likely to be affected by this upcoming project last week, but if you live on Chinoe near New Circle, Dunbarton Lane, Chinoe Creek apartments, or The Woods Lane I hope to see you this evening!
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2021 FALL LEAF COLLECTION
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Vacuum leaf collection begins November 8! We’re doing things a little differently this year. Dates will not be posted citywide due to staffing shortages and possible weather events, so check back regularly for updates and be sure to sign up for reminder emails.
The vacuum leaf collection program is a supplement to weekly yard waste collection. Gray yard waste carts are your best option for disposing of leaves and other yard waste. Paper yard bags will also be picked up on your regular collection day. Visit LexingtonKY.gov/Leaves for details.
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Some of our 5th District neighbors were truly in the Halloween sprit yesterday! They installed a "candy chute" from their second floor balcony so that they could take part in the festivities. The kids (and adults alike) were very impressed!
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TRANSYLVAYNIA UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP
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Transylvania University has partnered with Appalachian Regional Healthcare to offer current and prospective students from Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia scholarship opportunities to enter the healthcare field. After graduation, students will be asked to move back to the ARH service area and work for a minimum of three years. Learn more about this exciting partnership here!
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RURAL BROADBAND EXPANSION
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Kentucky is among 19 states that were recently awarded funding from the FCC to expand rural broadband; these dollars are vital to increasing broadband access for our rural neighbors across the Commonwealth.
Locally, Lexington's city council also recently set aside funds to join a broadband project occurring in northern Fayette County. Access to reliable internet is vital to our continued growth as a community.
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Kentucky residents, farmers and businesses who generate less than five percent of their revenues from tire sales can drop off unwanted tires for free Nov. 4 – 6 at the city’s old landfill pad at 1631 Old Frankfort Pike. Please enter the site through the front gates. You do not need to reside within Fayette County to participate.
“We are pleased to offer this free opportunity to properly dispose of tires through a partnership with the state,” said Tracey Thurman, Director of Lexington’s Division of Waste Management. “The thousands of tires collected will be recycled into useful products such as recycled asphalt pavement, speed bumps, tire derived fuel and more.”
The following businesses cannot participate in the event: tire retailers, scrap metal dealers, salvage yards or recycling businesses. Those with loads of 100 or more tires are required to bring assistance for unloading. Scavenging is not allowed.
Event hours are:
- Thursday, Nov. 4, from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 6, from 7 a.m. – noon
Accepted tires: tires on or off rim including farm equipment, bicycle, motorcycle, go-cart, ATV, tractor, truck and passenger tires.
Not accepted at collection event: Large off-the-road tires, tracks, sheet rubber, solid, filled tires or tires with a bead greater than 1 ¾ inch.
The Waste Tire Collection Program is sponsored by the Kentucky Division of Waste Management and Lexington’s Division of Waste Management.
Fayette County residents who receive city waste service can dispose of up to four off-the-rim automobile tires per week at no charge through the curbside collection program.
For more information, please call LexCall 3-1-1 at (859) 425-2255.
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Beginning Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, you will be required to use 10 digits when placing calls from your wireless or landline phone. This includes calls within your area code that you may currently only dial with seven digits. To complete local calls, you will need to dial the three-digit area code plus seven-digit telephone number. In preparation for this deadline, you should also review your contacts and update saved numbers to include the area code. If you already use 10 digits for local calls, you don’t need to do anything. Learn more here!
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THE BIG DIG FOR JAKE GIBBS
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Join American in Bloom Lexington in honoring former 3rd Councilmember Jake Gibbs and help plant Daffodil bulbs tomorrow!
WHERE: CHARLES YOUNG PARK DAFFODIL DRIFT
Shropshire@Third St.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 2
Shifts are 1-3pm, 2-4pm or 3-5pm
Rain Date, Wed November 3
ALL ARE WELCOME! Bring shovel/pickaxe, trowel and work gloves if you have them.
Planting will occur to the left of the existing drift which honors Yvonne Giles, our 2020 awardee.
Free parking is available in the adjacent lot or on Shropshire Street.
Rain date is Wednesday, Nov 3, same hours
Information Contact: bluegrassinbloom@gmail.com
Register in advance here!
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NEW CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT LINES PROPOSED
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You can find a comprehensive overview and use the interactive map on the City's website!
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NEW PROGRAM ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO VIEW BUILDING PERMITS
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Residents can view land use and building permit activity in their neighborhoods and all of Fayette County by using the City’s recently launched web-based platform, AgencyCounter. The program offers an efficient, user-friendly way to view development activity throughout Lexington.
AgencyCounter features notification alerts that will email residents when construction-related activity is occurring within a neighborhood, council district or along an individual block. Residents can follow what’s happening in the community on either a mobile device or desktop computer. It is updated daily.
To get started, visit lexingtonky.agencycounter.com. A link can also be found on the City’s open data portal. To receive notifications about permits in specific areas, residents will need to submit their email address.
AgencyCounter is a newer version of Buildingeye, the program the City previously used to share permit activity with the public.
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If you or someone you know needs rental or utility assistance due to lost income from the COVID-19 crisis, please apply here. Approved applicants will be eligible for 100% of past-due rent, dating back to April of 2020, and up to three months of future payments. These funds are also available to landlords.
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LFUCG BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES
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Joining a board or commission is a great way to have your voices heard on local issues that matter to you. If you're looking for a way to give back and help to shape the direction of Lexington's future, I encourage you to review this list and apply! You'll find the current list of vacancies for the City's boards and commissions, application deadlines/requirements, and meeting schedules.
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Learn more about all current job openings here!
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