The council is in winter recess and will not begin regular meetings until the second full week of January 2014.
The Sidewalk
As of this writing, all of the “flat” surfaces of the new Tates Creek Road sidewalk are complete. Once all of the paper chase was complete between the state and the city, the contractor on the job performed outstandingly. To my mind the project is essentially complete and five months ahead of schedule.
Alumni Drive does have some great sidewalks in some areas but needs the connectivity that completing the corridor would bring. And then there’s Richmond Road. A gateway of sorts into the city is undergoing its own renaissance. Inside New Circle Road there has been great investment lately and the sidewalks to tie it all together seem like a proper opportunity for the city to lead.
To me the subtle success on Tates Creek Road has been the truly finished appearance the corridor now has and moreover the permission it seems to give pedestrians to join in using the corridor – and they are using it. The 5th District Council office will be focusing on partnering prospects, capital requests and grants (as was successful on Tates Creek Road) to get these endeavors started. Getting them finished is a different order but dream into action is remaking Lexington right now.
Leaf Collection
It’s hard to pass through the 5th District without recognizing the beautiful canopy of trees that line our neighborhoods. In fact, of the 12 Council districts, the 5th is the most heavily canopied. So it isn’t a far stretch to understand that frustrations have been running high since the Nov. 18 kickoff for leaf collection has been delayed time and time again due to inclement weather. In fact, looking at data collected from LexCall 311, a solid half of the calls coming in regarding leaf collection have been from the 5th District.
As of press time, the last collection date has been moved from the end of December to at least Jan. 10, 2014. This extension applies to all four zones in the Urban Services Area, three of which the 5th District touches in some capacity. During this prolonged service time period, please make use of your Lennys and your leaf bag coupons until the collection trucks have passed through your neighborhood. Extra coupons are available by calling LexCall 311 or (859) 425-2255.
Rob Allen, arborist and supervisor over the leaf collection program, hopes to rezone the subzones in the 5th District to make things move more smoothly in 2014. Allen cites three factors for the delays we’ve experienced this year: the late start date due to the wet summer, the Thanksgiving holiday, and the efforts of salt crews to keep our roads ice and snow free during recent inclement bursts. The same crews that vacuum our leaves are pulled off of that duty and put behind the wheel of salt trucks when bad weather hits. The plan needs tweaking and will certainly be fodder for discussion in the new budget year.
As we begin the new year, I’m not a big one for “resolutions.” The new year does give us the pause to consider our lives and our community, an appraisal of what we have to be thankful for. I would challenge you to be open to change, whether it be large or small. Whether it touches just us or everyone we know, that is a resolution that if you do indeed keep it, you’ll likely never forget it.
Bill Farmer, Jr. is the 5th District council representative. He can be reached at (859) 258-3213, by e-mail at bfarmer@lexingtonky.gov, or by fax at (859) 259-3838. Letters may be addressed to: Councilmember Bill Farmer, Urban County Council, 200 E. Main St., Lexington, KY 40507.