We have had a real heat wave and my home air conditioner has been broken. It brings back memories of summer nights when we would go to a double feature at the moving picture show just to enjoy the air conditioning. After the show we would turn on the electric fan to play over a block of ice to try to make sleep possible. Fortunately, the air conditioning man showed up with the elusive part and we are back contributing to the carbon footprint for Lexington.
At a special morning meeting recently, your 15 council members reached an agreement on the budget. The mayor's recommendation for a city-sponsored scholarship was rejected without considering alternative funding mechanisms besides your taxes. I was the lone wolf in a 14-to-one vote as I thought the idea had some merit. Our US and Kentucky record in the sciences, engineering and mathematics is dismal when compared to the rest of the world. There is no evidence that people in Asia or Europe or the Middle East are more intelligent than are Americans, but it appears that our educational systems do not create the stimulation of our brains.
The council did manage to find enough money to raise the non-sworn employees wages by 2.3 percent, whereas the mayor's budget recommended a 1 percent raise.
Many items are being postponed such as new police recruits and initial bond payments. This will get us through this year, but if the economy does not improve, the budget for fiscal year 2010 will need some magic. Many amenities such as the parks, public art and so forth, will be on life support this coming year. Eighty-three percent of the revenue for the general operations of the government-except for garbage and sewers-are paid by the occupational license fee, net profits on business, and a six percent tax on insurance premiums. A slight recession, like now, causes a drastic fall in the revenue as expenses continue to increase.
Lexington's biggest community event will be the Fourth of July downtown festival. The band concert, the Bluegrass 10,000, the parade and the carnival all contribute to the event. The entire schedule is on the www.lfucg.com.
The complaints I receive are more and more related renovations that are not in character with the neighborhood, or additions to existing structures that are too close. All are approved by building inspection, so they are legal. The process of obtaining a building permit is the only requirement to build or remodel. If the code is followed the permit is issued.
A neighborhood can control the character of structures and their replacements by enacting an ND-1 overlay. This sets standards for building mass and other features; the neighborhood must agree on these standards. The planning commission and the council then pass the appropriate overlay. The Chevy Chase neighborhood is going through the process now.
The Shriners and the Ashland and Fairway Neighborhood Associations have assumed responsibility for tending the traffic islands off of Richmond Road. Irrigation has been installed and the vegetation upgraded, and maintenance is done as you would do your lawn. It is a big improvement. Thank you to the citizens involved.
Six hundred people attended the Kenwick Neighborhood Association annual Bungalow Tour a few Sundays ago. Forty volunteers helped guide and register the visitors as they toured the seven houses and two gardens. Next year will be the 100th anniversary of the neighborhood.