February 10th, 2023

6th District Newsletter

From Councilwoman Denise Gray

Since the last newsletter, I have been working my way through my goal of connecting with each school in District 6. As many of you who watch city council meetings have heard me say numerous times, the 6th District has the most Fayette County Public Schools schools and programs--15 to be exact. 

So far I have met with the leadership at Bryan Station High School, Carter G. Woodson Academy, Northern Elementary, Deep Springs Elementary, and Eastside Technical Center. 

Currently, the city council is knee deep in determining the budget for fiscal year 2024. I’d like your feedback of what you believe our needs are here in District 6. Please send your feedback to dgray@lexingtonky.gov by February 15 at 6pm. 

Also, since our last newsletter I recorded my first Council Comment. Please watch to learn how to stay informed of what is happening in our district. 

Connect with the 6th District Office

SAVE THE DATE:
DISTRICT 6th MEETING
MARCH 13th - MARY TODD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

FACEBOOK RSVP

Save the date and make a plan to attend the LFUCG District 6 Meeting. Meetings will take place in our district.

Our first meeting will take place on Monday, March 13, at 6 PM. The meeting takes place in the Mary Todd Precinct at Mary Todd Elementary.

This is a district-wide meeting. All residents of district 6 are welcome! Instead of having our meetings outside of our district, during my tenure as your city councilwoman, we will have them inside our district utilizing the public schools in our district. This is merely the location for our first meeting. So please attend and spread the word! 

Let Us Know What's Happening In Your Neighborhood!

6th District Road Repair Request Form

Neighborhood Development Funds Request Form

Every year, each LFUCG Council Office is allotted a certain amount of Neighborhood Development Funds that can be granted to registered non-profit organizations "for any lawful public purpose in the best interest of and for the use and benefit of the community."

NDF REQUEST FORM

Mayor provides violence prevention grants to schools

Mayor Linda Gorton today announced the city will provide first-ever violence prevention grants to 16 public schools in Fayette County.

The $500 and $1,000 ONE Lexington grants will be given to the Family Resource and Youth Services Centers. Family support programs are offered through the centers to help children who are encountering barriers to educational success. The centers provide support in basic needs, school attendance, social skills, and crisis response. 

Devine Carama, Director of ONE Lexington, said, “I believe that our community does its best for our youth when the school system, parents, and community partners work together to serve them. This grant opportunity not only leverages funding to schools in areas most affected by gun violence, it promotes collaboration between city government and Fayette County Public Schools. Family Resource & Youth Services Centers have the pulse of what students need, and we look forward to working with them to better serve students and families.”

Ciera Bowman, Family Resource Youth Services Center coordinator at Henry Clay High School, said, “This opportunity will help us increase services and unique interventions to youth most impacted by the trauma of violence. With this grant, the centers will be able to continue and expand services for each community's unique needs. Specifically, at Henry Clay, I’ll be collaborating with other high schools centers and community partners to host youth summits to educate, empower and listen to the concerns and perspectives of students in our communities. This donation represents more than just money. It represents the support our youth need within our community, within their schools, and wherever they can be reached.”

The 10 schools getting $1,000 grants are Lexington Traditional Magnet School, Winburn Middle School, Bryan Station Middle School, Crawford Middle School, Tates Creek Middle School, Henry Clay High School, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Frederick Douglass High School, The Learning Center, and Martin Luther King Jr. Academy.

The six schools getting $500 grants are William Wells Brown Elementary School, Booker T. Washington Elementary School, Arlington Elementary School, Mary Todd Elementary School, Deep Springs Elementary and Rosa Parks Elementary School.

One Lexington, in partnership with the Community Action Council, is also providing grants to community partners involved in violence prevention. “There are people in the community who have been doing this work for many years as volunteers,” Gorton said. “This grant program allows us to benefit from their experience, and reach more young people.”

Carama said the city allocated $50,000 to support the Gun Violence Prevention Grant Program. The Community Recipients of grants will receive up to $7,500. Grant applications are being assessed by Community Action Council. The grants are expected to be awarded later this month.

Become a part of Lexington’s fourth annual Water Week

Water Week, a community celebration of Lexington’s waterways, is seeking submissions for events and activities from March 18 – 25, 2023.

Water Week events should help the community form connections to local waterways and encourage everyone to take steps to improve and protect water quality. Kentucky has over 90,000 miles of surface rivers and streams, and Water Week can introduce those waterways to new audiences.

Last year’s events included stream walks, litter cleanups, a science night, canoeing, volunteer plantings and an information session about SCUBA diving. Photography classes, storm drain stenciling, and book discussions are other possibilities. Events must be free of charge to the public, and can be in person, virtual, or self-guided. Businesses, organizations and individuals are all welcome to submit events.

Lexington’s fourth annual Water Week is a collaboration between the City of Lexington, UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Kentucky American Water and local watershed and community organizations.

To learn more or submit a Water Week event, visit lexingtonky.gov/WaterWeek.

Corrections, police, fire, government employees get raises

To make salaries more competitive and improve retention of quality employees, the Urban County Council today gave Corrections Officers a $7,500 annual raise.

In recent weeks, Council has also increased the pay of Police Officers and Sergeants by $8,000 a year; Police Lieutenants by $5,000 a year; Firefighters, Lieutenants, and Captains by $5,500 a year; and Corrections Lieutenants and Captains by $7,000.

“We are making our public safety salaries more competitive in the jobs market,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “Like other cities across the country, Lexington has had a problem attracting recruits and retaining officers, especially in Police and Corrections. Keeping our city safe is my top priority, and that means we need quality, well-trained employees. Safety is essential. It is the foundation of our city’s quality of life.”

The increase brings Corrections starting pay to more than $50,000 a year. Corrections also agreed to limited rehiring of part-time corrections employees; allowing supervisory staff to fill overtime slots; and allowing lateral hires from other Corrections facilities to receive starting pay based on experience.

City workers outside of public safety got a 3% raise in January.

The overall cost of the raises is estimated at $17 million a year. The Council set aside $26 million in fund balance this year to absorb a portion of the cost for several years and allow time for revenue to grow.

‘Art on the Town’ announces plans for spring

Spring planning is beginning to reserve “Art on the Town” mobile art carts.

In May 2022, Mayor Linda Gorton introduced the carts, which local artists can use to sell or demonstrate their work, including paintings, drawings, jewelry, baskets, prints, books, pottery, and more. This year the program is expanding.

Starting in March, the program is coming back for a second year. Kentucky artists are invited to submit an application and attend an upcoming Artist Orientation Session. Artist orientations are required to be a part of the program and will be held at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 1, or 5:30 p.m., Thursday, February 9. Reserve a spot by emailing Heather Lyons, Lexington Director of Arts and Cultural Affairs, at hlyons@lexingtonky.gov. Reservations are required.

Following the completion of an application and participation in the required Artist Orientation, artists will become a part of the “Art on the Town” roster and may schedule carts, at no cost. 

“Art on the Town was designed to help local artists showcase and sell their work on a regular basis,” Lyons said. “We were delighted with a wonderful first season that resulted in dozens of artists selling their work to local, national and international buyers. I am really excited to be expanding the program this year with more venues for artists to sell their work, and with more artists, craftspeople and authors participating. Our local artists are tremendous assets to the community. They bring beauty, imagination, and fun to every event.”

Kentucky artists and craftspeople who are juried into established programs, such as Kentucky Crafted, Art Inc., or the Kentucky Guild, or who have been selected for art exhibits or fairs, are encouraged to participate.

For more information, go to lexingtonky.gov/aott or contact Lyons at (859) 258-3123 or via email, hlyons@lexingtonky.gov.

Upcoming Events

• February 14th - Valentine's Day
• February 6th - 17th - Fall FCPS Kindergarten Registration

  • Visit the district’s enrollment section for details and instructions. If you have questions, please call your elementary school's registrar. 

    Website: http://www.fcps.net/registration 

• February 20th - President's Day