The year has spun by with frightening velocity, and now it is time to wish all Happy Holidays and a prosperous and enjoyable New Year. The year 2008 will be highlighted by elections in November for local, state, and national offices. Please make sure you are registered and plan to exercise your opportunity to choose the representatives who will determine your civic future. My first term as the 5th district councilmember will be up and I must decide whether to throw my hat in the ring. Filing must be done on or before Jan. 29, but I will decide before the end of the year. It is an honor and a privilege to represent the best district in Lexington. I thank most of the citizens for the courteous cooperation they have extended to me (even when the outcome did not always suit them).
There has been an unprecedented amount of asphalt spread around all of Lexington (perhaps all of Kentucky) this year and I have heard many questions about the selection process for which streets were chosen. The Streets, Roads and Forestry division scores each street with an objective rating of the pavement. Leo McMillen, division director, does a good job at reviewing the scores of all streets in Lexington that fall below the cutoff score of 65 and then apportioning the resources across the community. He does ask the council person for comment in assigning priorities before the blacktop plant closes with the onset of freezing weather. If you want to know the score for your street, contact me or legislative aid Lori Kidwell at 258 3200 in the council office.
An unusual event occurred this year in the 5th District. A citizen called me when his street, Lakewood Drive, was being milled prior to resurfacing as he thought the street did not need repaving. Investigation revealed that the State Highway Department was doing something that had never been done before, repairing a local street. Barrow Road was also done by the state. I believe it had something to do with the election, which should be no revelation to anyone accustomed to Kentucky politics.
An unmet need in Lexington is the sidewalks. Many are absent and others are unsafe or dangerous, such as those on portions of Versailles Road. For example, there are no sidewalks on most of Tates Creek Road between Lakewood and Lansdowne Shopping Center. Julian Beard, 4th district councilman, and I are looking into this problem to see if something can be done.
Traffic issues remain of general concern and many suggestions are received about how to fix the specific problems. Speeding, congestion, and breaking the laws seem to the most frequent complaints. Traffic engineer Bradley Frazier is available to consult with us about solutions that might be feasible. Not all suggestions received from citizens are feasible. I did ask the police for selective enforcement on Fontaine, Henry Clay, and Hart Road and the citations on Fontaine went from 21 in September to 46 in October, so beware.
An interesting idea has arisen about roundabouts. A study of possible locations has been initiated and includes the end of Hanover where it intersects with Ghent and the intersection of Ridgeway and Fontaine. Stop signs could be eliminated and speed controlled. They work elsewhere and I believe they would work here.
Be of good cheer and enjoy the Holidays. I look forward to 2008.