A New Year has dawned and it will be both happy and sad for me as I begin my last year of service with the Urban County Council. It has been an honor and a pleasure. Most days have been fine, but I can recall a few bummers. As some may know, I served on the Charter Commission in 1970 that created our special form of merged government. It was a good group with active participation by all, and good leadership by the late Professor of Political Science Bill Lyons. Lyons also served one term on the Council, but as a proverbial "absent minded professor," he did not get the necessary 50 registered voters on his petition to run for a second term and was taken off the ballot. I have had the opportunity to visit other cities with merged city and county governments and ours is the best. The merged government has helped our community in many ways, but the ability for our whole populace to participate in land use decisions and the involvement of citizen councilors are the two best.
I thought 15 consecutive years would be long enough and, for personal reasons and a slight case of civic fatigue, I decided to call it quits. I did so in the middle of December so prospective candidates would have plenty of time before the Jan. 29, 2008 filing deadline to make up their minds. If only one person files, no election. If two file there will only be a general election and if three or more file, a primary will be necessary.
There are several issues on which I plan to bring closure before I finish:
1. Budget and Finance Committee-As chairman, I hope to focus on the budget to find extra money that can be used on parks development, beautification of our corridors and other projects that usually are the last to be funded if at all.
2. Infill and Redevelopment Steering Committee-This last year our Task Forces on quality of life, place and process have been meeting frequently to research and analyze our problems. Their report will be received in advertised committee meetings and two public workshops. A priority for changes and projects will be established so that private and public actions can enhance our infill initiatives and be enacted by ordinances or adoption of policies.
3. Corridors Committee-This committee of citizens, council persons, and representatives of various government agencies such as code enforcement, building inspection, forestry, council staff, and planning will be working to oversee the two transportation enhancement grants which we all hope will greatly improve the appearance of Versailles Road and Newtown Pike. The project to plant trees on Tates Creek Rd has been successful-it is planned to plant trees further down the road and to place sidewalks if possible.
4. Town and Gown Committee-Student housing is still a large problem in certain areas. The committee, along with UK and the city, has concentrated on this issue for nearly 10 years with some success; however, not enough has been done. In many university communities such as ours, the key solution has been density control. Ideally, 50 percent or fewer of the residences of a certain street should be student residences. There is one neighborhood with over 90 percent student houses. On the table now for discussion is an ordinance that would license student homes and restrict them to every third house. Current student houses would stay until that use is discontinued. A home buy-back program with restoration for owner occupancy would gradually rehabilitate the area. I believe prevention of the many problems associated with high-density student housing is better than a difficult process of stricter enforcement.
Remember that neither I nor Lori Kidwell can read your mind. So please let us know what you think. Contact: e-mail Davids@lfucg.com, cell (859) 221-2054, office (859) 258-3200