Copart's junkyard close to becoming reality

In a note to constituents today, Councilman David Yates (D-25) tells the awful truth about Copart and the company's plans to open what any sensible person would call a junkyard on Pond Station Road.

There has been significant outrage in the community since Copart's plans were revealed.

Yates' statement:

The District 25 office has been notified by Metro Planning and Design that the proposed Copart Facility does not require a Conditional Use Permit, citing that their operation does not exceed the already permitted use of the property under the Land Development Code.

Metro Planning and Design has based their decision on the contention that Copart has applied to only stores vehicle, will not "part" them out for sale, and may only store them in a manner that allows for ease of access.

After several meetings with Copart representatives and their legal counsel, we have voiced our objection to the proposed use at the proposed location. However, our office has continued to work diligently to assist Copart in finding an alternative resolution for all parties- that embraces new business, but protects the use and enjoyment of our neighbor’s properties and the integrity of neighborhoods. We have proposed four alternative suitable options as locations for the Copart facility in other, already heavily industrialized areas more suitable for their business, and we will continue to lobby for their consideration of another site.

It is an understatement to say that we are disappointed with Metro Planning and Designs decision. Based on the current Zoning of the proposed location, it was understood that your Metro Council did not have the authority to review the BOZA decision of the conditional use permit. However, both I and several of my colleges on the Metro Council were prepared to speak out for our constituents and voice our concerns with the proposed use. It is unfortunate that we will no longer be afforded the opportunity to make a public argument to a neutral board on behalf of the citizens directly and indirectly affected.

We will continue to keep you up to date on the progression of this issue.

Click HERE for a copy of the Opinion from Planning and Design.

Please contact our office should you have any concerns, or would like any additional information.

How this plan fits in with the Southwest Greenways project, the Louisville Loop project or the Dixie Highway Corridor Study plan isn't clear. That is because it doesn't fit.

Promised improvements to "quality of life" are obviously not coming for people here.

Just more junk.

The next time you see the mayor, you should ask him what he thinks of our new junkyard. Hell, maybe he will cut the ribbon on it.

While timing the traffic lights on Dixie Highway is nice and new bus shelters and trash cans are better than the over-turned shopping carts riders sit on to wait for the next TARC, these things do not make a real difference in people's lives.

It doesn't help political careers, either.

Last year, people said they didn't want Miller Transportation to build a giant bus maintenance facility at the entrance to a neighborhood. Residents lost.

Last year, people said they didn't want a developer to transfer a parcel of property over to the city because Metro Parks couldn't explain what they were going to do with it. Residents lost.

This year, people said they didn't want these yard sale or flea market businesses to be able to pop up just anywhere. Residents lost.

This year, people said we have finally have enough Family Dollar and Dollar General stores. Please stop granting them permits. Residents lost.

It is over.

We lost.

Had enough? Old Melton's now a junk yard/flea market

The Valley Report facebook page has been buzzing with activity over the opening of yet another flea market/yard sale store in the space formerly occupied by Melton's Food Mart on Valley Station Road near the railroad tracks.

Commenters say they are "fed up" with this type of development.

Join our discussion and tell us how you feel about this latest store, and while you are there, check out the photos of this atrocity.

How long do you think it will last? How long can you live with this type of commerce?

Like gypsies in the night: LMPD 3rd Division crime trends for January, 2012

Courtesy of your SW Metro Council representatives, here are the most recent Crime Trends for the LMPD 3rd Division. Specific trends to be aware of are as follows:

There were three separate burglaries reported in the 4800-4900 blocks of Dixie Hwy. Each time, a concrete block was thrown through the front window of the business and all three happened after dark. One report had a suspect listed as a white male.

There was a home burglary reported in Hunters Point. The victim was inside when a white or Hispanic male wearing a red hat and blue jacket, forced his way in the back of the home. Please call police with any information you may have regarding this case.

A green utility trailer was reported stolen from a driveway off Upper Hunters. The trailer is reported to be metal with wooden sideboards and floorboards and has B &G Framing written on the side in black marker. If you spot this trailer, please call police.

3 car break-ins were reported on the lot of Wal-Mart at 7100 Raggard Rd. Police arrested the suspect, who admitted to breaking in to all 3 cars. All property was then returned to the victims.

A theft of a vehicle was reported on Freeman Ave. The vehicle was taken while the victim still had the keys. SUV is a red Mercury Mountaineer KY 040MBN.

A separate vehicle was reported stolen from Iroquois Gardens Dr. That vehicle is described as a 1997 black Honda Civic KY 111HES.

A home burglary was reported on Palatka Rd. where 2 guns were stolen, along with other valuables. The weapons are described as a .22 Springfield rifle and a Remington 12 gauge shotgun.

A burglary of a garage was reported on Elmer Ln. An unknown suspect kicked in the door and took tools along with a red Honda motorcycle.

Vehicle parts were taken from a car lot on National Turnpike during closed business hours. Parts were later recovered after being found by the business owner. Please keep an eye out if you are out along this road, especially during the overnight hours.

A burglary was reported on Gleam where the back door was kicked in and 2 guns, along with a computer were stolen. The weapons were a 12 gauge shotgun and a Remington 860.

2 thefts from autos were reported on East Dr. One vehicle had the window broken out and the other was left unlocked with a purse and its contents taken from inside. Remember to always lock your cars while away from them.

An air conditioning unit theft from a church was reported on Deering Rd.
 
A business burglary was reported on Valley Station Rd. Entry was made to the building and a safe with cash inside was taken.

Another air conditioning unit theft was reported from a church on Valley Station Rd.

Sun Valley on Ashby Ln. was burglarized last week when an unknown suspect/s gained entry to the parking lot and building and took a trailer and valuables. Any information you may have regarding this, please call the police.

There were 5 home burglaries reported South of Greenwood Rd and North of Hwy 841 during the last week, all were entered with force. Keep an eye out, especially if you are home during the day, for any suspicious activity or people that may be around your neighbors or your own home. Never hesitate to call the police with any concerns.

2 home burglaries were reported on Kinross Dr. The back door was pried on one and valuables were taken from inside both homes.

A John Deere green and yellow Gator was reported stolen from a construction site on Lower River Rd. Any information you may have in regards to this theft, please pas along to police.

Again, 2 separate vehicles were reported to have been “broken in” to by the victims leaving them UNLOCKED. If you have anything inside valuable enough to report to the police, LOCK YOUR CAR.

We appreciate any help from the community to solve crime. Please talk to all of your friends, family members, social and professional organizations and make them aware of this new service the Louisville Metro Police Department is offering. The more the information gets out to the community the better our chances of keeping Louisville safe.

3rd Division crime trends: Things are getting out of hand here

Ok, here are the most recent Crime Trends for the LMPD 3rd Division. Specific trends to be aware of are as follows:

- There were several thefts from autos and a home burglary reported along the Lower Hunters Trace corridor. ALL of these were the result of vehicles or homes being left unlocked and unattended. ALWAYS LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS WHILE AWAY.

- A silver Mazda 6 with KY license plate 672FET was reported stolen from a parking lot. Vehicle was left running, unlocked, with the keys inside. If you have any information for the police in reference to this crime, please call.

- The Smoke Shop on Terry Rd. was burglarized. Police are looking for a white male in his 20’s with a thin “chin strap” beard.

- There were 3 separate reports of car break-ins at Meadows South Nursing Home. In all thefts, the windows of the vehicles were broken out and valuables taken. Remember to hide all valuables or take them with you.

- Another theft report was taken by police where a man, dressed as a Louisville Water Co. employee, was let in to a home by the homeowner and proceeded to steal from them. If you have any information about this crime please call police.

- There were 2 reports of air conditioning units stolen from Hampton Place Ct. There were also 2 reports of MSD sewer grates taken from the area of Glimmer Way. Any info you may have, please don’t hesitate to call police.

- Again, there was a report of a home burglary and a theft from auto. Both the home and vehicle were UNLOCKED.

- A white male suspect was seen fleeing from a car break-in. The suspect vehicle police are looking for is a small tan or gold vehicle.

- There was a report of a home burglary off of Valley College Dr. The home was entered by force and many specific valuables were taken. Make sure to keep a good eye on any property where the occupants may be gone during normal, daytime working hours.

- Police are looking for a dark colored Chevy 4D occupied by a black male. The vehicle and suspect are wanted in reference to a home burglary.

- A Chevy pickup truck was observed taking wooden pallets from the 10000 block of Dixie Hwy. The license plate number of the wanted vehicle is KY tag 696LLV.

- A trailer was reported stolen with a 1999 Ford Ranger topper mounted to it. The suspect vehicle is reported as being a red or maroon older model Ford truck.

-2 separate thefts from autos were reported in Autumn Lake trailer park. In both thefts, force was used to enter the vehicles and take valuables. Remember to hide or remove all valuables from your car anytime you are away.

Authorites appreciate any help from the community to solve crime. Please talk to all of your friends, family members, social and professional organizations and make them aware of this new service the Louisville Metro Police Department is offering. The more the information gets out to the commmuntiy the better our chances of keeping Louisville safe.

Valley Station pimped by dollar stores- residents flee

The latest edition of Councilman Bob Henderson's email newsletter arrived a few days ago and attached was an interesting story about economic development in the 14th District:

There will be an informational meeting on December 14th at 1pm concerning the property at 13313 Dixie Hwy (north east corner of Dixie and Pendleton Road) for a possible Family Dollar Store at that site. The meeting will be held at 514 West Liberty Street in downtown Louisville.

Case #16208

Let's talk about it.

What do you think about this development? Is it the right thing for SW Louisville? Is it the best we can get? Do you think it is a good thing? Is any business a good business? Is our area over-served by dollar stores?

The facts are clear. The area is already saturated with dollar stores, from the Dollar Tree to Dollar General and now Family Dollar.

But what I want to know is what YOU think of this new situation.

Blast away.....

Valley Post Office meeting TONIGHT

Reminder: An informational meeting concerning the closing of the Valley Station Post Office is being held today, Tuesday October 25th, from 7pm-8pm at the VFW Post located at 6518 Blevins Gap Road.

USPS officials will be on hand to answer your questions about the post office.

2011 Labor Day Weekend events: What to do, what to avoid

The coming weekend brings with it the worker's holiday, Labor Day, and there are many events happening around town. Here is a list of events you should consider. Please choose wisely, and remember the holiday for what it really is.

Respect hard work. Celebrate Labor Day.

- 12th Annual Labor Day Picnic & Car Show, sponsored by Greater Louisville United Labor. For union members and their families. Louisville Zoo. Monday, September 5th. Always well attended and always a great time. Celebrate the true meaning of Labor Day with your fellow union members at the Louisville Zoo and enjoy food, music and a car show all for a low price. Click the link to view the official flyer for this year's event (pdf). Contains admission and important parking information.

- Belle of Louisville Labor Day cruise. 4th Street Wharf. Monday, September 5th.

- WorldFest 2011 on the Belvedere. Friday, September 2nd through Sunday, September 4th.

There are a few other events being held this week and on Labor Day Weekend that do not deserve your consideration for various reasons. Here are the ones to avoid completely:

- Grand Opening of Vendors' Village Flea Market. Thursday, September 1st. Abandon all hope, ye who enter here...BOYCOTT THIS DUMP.

- Mayor's Hike, Bike & Paddle. Monday, September 5th. Tell the Mayor to end the practice of holding these events on important holiday weekends. Memorial Day belongs to our lost veterans. Labor Day belongs to workers. Pick another time or end them all together. 

 - The Kentucky Flea Market, Friday, September 2nd through Monday, September 5th. Kentucky Fair and Expo Center. Save yourself the $8 parking fee and find something worthwhile to do. Didn't they get enough of your money for parking during the State Fair? Dixie Highway is a Flea Market paradise full of free parking. Besides, don't you have enough of that junk already?

UPDATED: Let us hope this is not our destiny. But it probably is.

The first video is a classic in local television commercial stupidity. Straight out of Alabama:



If that was not enough for you, check out this next entry. Straight out of Valley Station. The ultimate in embarrassing idiocy. May the Lord have mercy on us.

Valley Station Hallmark store shuttered

Photo courtesy of Corey Koellner

As many of you may know, the Hallmark Gold Crown store located in the Dixie Valley shopping center will close its doors at the end of July.

A store employee today said that the rent had been raised to a level that would not allow the business to remain in the center.

The employee told us today that the store would not be seeking a more affordable location and would be simply going out of business in Valley Station.

The Dixie Valley shopping center has been at the center of a controversy involving the new owners, Baceline Investments LLC of Denver, and the operators of a Vendors' Village flea market that is set to open in the old Kroger space. Wal-Mart is the "anchor" tenant in the center.

Baceline recently purchased Dixie Valley for $3.3 million dollars.

Valley's Heitzman Bakery location closes

After limping along for just over a year, Heitzman's Valley Station store has closed its doors.

The store, located at 5427 Valley Station Road, occupied the space formerly filled by Porky's Barbecue. Other prior tenants included Bake's Barbecue and a short-lived liquor store.

The property was once home to a Dairy Mart convenience-style market and gas station.

On a personal note, I'm sorry to see this place go. What does it take to get locals to support local businesses? Or does the community only want large chains?

Signs have been posted on the door and windows of the store referring customers to the Dixie highway location on the outskirts of Shively.

UPDATE: Dixie Valley Center owners respond to flea market critics

Following my article on Dixie Valley Shopping Center's new owners and the development's latest flea market tenant, south end resident and Valley Report reader Aaron Dutton did something great and decided to contact Baceline Investments, LLC to register his displeasure.

I don't know if you are the right person to email about this sort of thing, or if it will even matter. As stated in the subject line, I am writing in regards to the Vendor's Village that is moving into the Dixie Valley shopping center. According to a Business First article, Baceline Investments planned an aggressive revitalization that was designed to attract top tenants to the shopping center, and all we got was another junk store. I am not entirely opposed to junk stores but the southend of Louisville, KY is littered with them along with a number of other businesses that are a blight to our neighborhoods. And I would hardly call a flea market a TOP tenant. I am wondering since Baceline took over the property, that you guys might have some say as to who can take up shop. Or maybe you don't, I'm not sure. I guess this is not your problem but Vendor's Village is another example of the economic and cultural wasteland that is the southend of Louisville, KY. I am hoping that quality businesses will express an interest in leasing space at Dixie Valley, but with the arrival of this junk store, the prospects look grim. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Aaron Dutton

I would like to personally recognize Aaron's effort. It pleases and relieves me to know there are still people that care about the future of our area and that this man took the time to state his opinion.

The company replied to Mr. Dutton. They seem to leave the impression that it is the Kroger Company, not Baceline, that leased the space to the flea market. Here is their "excited" response:

Good Morning Aaron,

The tenant you are referring to is actually a sub-tenant of an existing tenant. Baceline Investments is quite excited to be a part of the community and is very committed to revitalizing Dixie Valley Shopping Center. Our leasing group is continually working with many different retail chains and reaching out to those companies we feel would represent what the demographic area is looking for in a shopping center.

We appreciate the fact that you took time to read about our entry into the Louisville area and our intentions for the Dixie Valley Shopping Center. As stated, we are very excited to have the opportunity to revitalize this shopping center and our team looks forward to bringing shoppers the businesses they enjoy visiting.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Melissa A. Wilson
Baceline Investments, LLC
720.382.2955 | direct

This story is still developing. More when I get it. And thanks for reading The Valley Report.

Mayor Fischer's latest back-room deal crushes Iron Quarter

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer confirmed the suspicions of his detractors yesterday when it was announced yet another "back room" secret deal had been made, this time between the new mayor and developer Todd Blue.

Blue will be allowed to raze the historic Iron Quarter buildings on Main Street within 90 days, "hopefully" saving the facades.

A Leo Weekly article from May 2010 cited the Main Street corridor as "home to the second-largest number of cast-iron facades in the world, exceeded only by the famed Soho district in New York City. At least two of the buildings owned by Blue are listed on the National Register of Historic Places."

A Fischer spokesperson says a deal was made because the city was afraid it might lose in court. That is an unfamiliar tactic in Louisville. The city always seemed willing to pursue every other case to the bitter end -even when it was wrong to do so- as it did during the recent legal battle with the firefighters on overtime pay.

But in this case, a deal that circumvented public input and tip-toed past the Landmark Commission was the best the city could do.

In an interview on Fox41, developer Blue said he was impressed with the "pro-business" attitude of the city's new administration while he, like so many others, struggled to make the transition to saying "Mayor Fischer" rather than "Mayor Abramson". It is worth noting that former Mayor Abramson wanted to protect the buildings and tried to coax Cobalt into a deal to save face and get out of the project in 2008.

Blue purchased the dilapidated buildings and allowed them to deteriorate further under his watch. That much is certain.

Holes in the roofs of the buildings since 2008 have gone ignored by Blue and his company, Colbalt Ventures.

Fischer will go to the Metro Council with a request that $450,000 be given to Cobalt Vultures Ventures.

The ultimate fate of the buildings now seems clear.

A sad day. A sad fate. One question remains: What's next?

Read More: Insider Louisville - Downtown getting new parking lot? Iron Quarter deal with city gives Todd Blue permission to clear historic buildings

Commentary on Miller Transportation's zoning hearing in Southwest Louisville

After careful thought and consideration, I would like to share with you my opinion on the proposed relocation and expansion of Miller Transportation's current facility in District 25, Southwest Louisville to a wooded area adjacent to the entrance of the Candlelight Neighborhood in District 13, also in Southwest Louisville. The more I think on the subject, the more angry I become. I don't do this very often, if ever, but there may will be profanity below. You have been warned.

Begin rant:

First, as you are all aware, the hearing that will be held before the Metro Planning Commission will occur this Thursday at 1PM at the Old Jail Building downtown. This time of day for which the hearing is scheduled is outrageous and unacceptable. 1PM is a time when most affected residents would be at work, and the lawyers who want to ram this project through on behalf of Miller Transportation do not want your participation. Without you there, it will be much easier to do a quick hand-job on the commission. This allows Miller Transportation to say, "See? No one even bothered to speak against it." The commission, after listening to Miller's high-priced attorneys clear their fucking throats for 15 minutes, will grant the request if residents don't come out in droves and act like savages.

Second,  I feel it is necessary to have an open, public forum for residents FIRST to air concerns and open a dialogue with the business owners that allows everyone to speak. The fact that Miller did not reach out to residents and seek their approval FIRST speaks to how seriously the company takes its responsibility to the community. Only after some type of forum is held should any hearing be scheduled, and residents should have some type of input on the time of the hearing. These are our neighborhoods, not a never-ending supply of cheap land for you to exploit.

Third, while we in Southwest Louisville appreciate the efforts of all local businesses and want them to succeed, sooner or later you people are going to have to come to grips with the fact that WE LIVE HERE, and your profit margins and your competitiveness and your part-time driving jobs and your idle threat to move out of town do not mean much to us if the way you plan to conduct your operations lowers our "quality of life". Good riddance.

Fourth, the environmental impact of such a business needs to be fully and thoroughly studied before any type of hearing is held on the matter. Creating a parking lot with over 200 spaces by paving over a wooded area does not do much to improve existing drainage issues in the area, bus exhaust isn't fun to breathe and lighting up a residential neighborhood at night does not improve "quality of life".

Fifth, the Southwest Dream Team's effort to encourage a letter-writing campaign on behalf of a bunch of millionaires is nothing more than corrupt communication and is one of the most misguided, destructive and disgusting things I have witnessed in a long time, and I have seen some pretty silly shit out here. What started as a noble effort to include everyone at the table to gain influence for our area has been ruined by the insatiable greed and stupidity of local business associations that exist only to serve the interests of a few fellow back-scratchers. And listen you insensitive assholes, you don't go around calling all concerned residents "a few nay-sayers". That takes balls. Those pesky "nay-sayers" are worried about their plummeting home values, something your flimsy organization should be trying to improve. Has anyone on the Dream Team ever considered what it would be like to try to sell a house - the value of which has already been depressed by the economy- right next to a huge bus maintenance facility that runs high pressure sodium lights all night long?

Lastly, the attempts by all sides to cockblock residents participation should backfire. I sure hope it does. And I hope the good people living in the Candlelight Neighborhood, a neighborhood consisting of several hundred modest homes as well as Lassiter Middle School, have the grit and ability to show up Thursday at 1PM to send a strong message to and make an example out of Miller Transportation and the once-proud Southwest Dream Team.

As stated previously, all email and letter correspondence either in favor of or against this project should to be sent to the attorney at the following email address: chashburner@wyattfirm.com. Email and letters should be addressed to: The Louisville Metro Planning Commission; Chief Rich Carlson, chair- c/o Cliff Ashburner, attorney.

End Rant.

SW Dream Team condemns "nay-sayers", backs Miller Trans. in zoning case

Miller Transportation is going before the Louisville Metro Planning Commission Thursday to seek a zoning change for "about 10 acres - much of it wooded" at the corner of Outer Loop and Afterglow Drive. [CJ]

The company is seeking to build a maintenance garage, an office building and 229 parking spaces, 121 for buses.

Residents of the Candlelight neighborhood have shown resistance to the plan, citing noise, fumes and drainage concerns, but another group is coming to the defense of Miller Transportation.

The Southwest Dream Team sent out the following, vaguely-worded message about the situation last week:

Big trouble - Soon come: Happy New Year 2011 Edition

"So let's drink to Kentucky, way out in the east, where a woman's ass and a whiskey glass made a horse's ass of me.”

Governor Beshear

Tonight is "amateur night" at parties and bar rooms all over Louisville. Places like the venerable Phoenix Hill Tavern will, at the stroke of midnight, have its restrooms coated with vomit by the uninitiated.

It takes years of practice to learn how to celebrate appropriately on New Year's Eve and by the time one is old enough to actually do so, the whole idea of going out has lost its luster.

I have not been out in years. Mostly because of the constant threat of police roadblocks and mass arrests on the streets. But there was a time at a place in Louisville called The Toy Tiger, and I was there and in proper form.

That is a story for another time.

My current New Year's Eve ritual began a couple of years ago. In a lasting fit of boredom, I checked out the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission's website and read the "prefiled bills" to be considered for the upcoming session of the General Assembly. It has become a tradition among some of my friends to make bets on which bills will get out of committee, and this year's collection contains some real gems.

- Making over the counter medicines like Sudafed require a prescription. [BR12]

- Forcing school districts to implement "wellness programs" and mandating physical activity time. [BR13]

- Creating a behemoth, regional MSD-type agency for Bullit, Hardin, Jefferson, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, and Spencer Counties [BR19]

- The Kentucky Firearms Freedom Act. [BR92]

- Amending the state constitution to extend the terms of State Representatives from two to four years and State Senators from four to six years. [BR249]

There are many more examples of disturbing behavior emanating from Frankfort, but we can save those for the New Year. Chew on these prefiled bills for a while, then place your bets. And avoid the Jägermeister.

In 2011, four blessings upon you:

Older whiskey.
Younger women.
Faster horses.
Smarter government.

Happy New Year.

2010 Year-End Headlines

- During a cliche-riddled discussion with The Voice-Tribune's Angie Fenton, incoming Louisville mayor Alfred E. Neuman Greg Fischer says he will go around "testing the temperature of the community."

I will leave it to you, dear reader, to discern exactly how Fischer will be taking your temperature. Hold on to your pants, this may get weird.

- Reasons Why I Hate Insight Communications #145 and 146:  Insight Communications has offered luxury suite tickets to Metro Council members for tomorrow's UK-U of L game in the downtown arena just prior to a vote by said council members on Insight's franchise agreement. It is an agreement that strengthens the company's monopoly on cable service in Louisville and allows them to gouge residents for bad, overpriced service. [WFPL's The Edit]

This delightful nugget of info comes a day after I received a letter from Insight telling me I am now required to have a box for every single television hooked to their mediocre cable. Cable-ready sets are now obsolete, as one may soon only be able to receive cable by means of the cheap, clunky, impractical new converter box. Personally, this action makes my highly prized, under cabinet, 7 inch TV set worthless. Unless, of course, I don't mind installing a goddamned converter box on my countertop.

Since I needed to make a New Year's Resolution, it may as well be this one: I will stop watching television.

- There are tons of prefiled bills to be taken up during the upcoming legislative session by Kentucky Lawmakers, and most of them were filed by reactionary douchebags. Same old, same old. [WFPL]

Caught on film: Doug Hawkins does John Boehner impression

More of the same: Fischer appoints crew that is part of the problem in Louisville

This morning Mayor-elect Greg Fischer announced some disappointments to his upcoming administration, confirming everyone's suspicion that his term will be a complete and total extension of Jerry Abramson's.

“These leaders will bring new faces and fresh ideas to Metro Government, and I am honored that they have agreed to serve the citizens of Louisville. They are a diverse group of dedicated people who bring both knowledge of government, as well as outside perspective.”

The appointments are:

* Ellen Hesen as Chief of Staff, who will manage interactions between all city departments and the mayor’s office. Hesen, 52, of Louisville, is currently General Counsel for Gov. Steve Beshear. She also has served as General Counsel for the state auditor and was a former Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet for Health Services. Hesen earned a JD from the University of Louisville School of Law and has held several positions in private sector law firms. She lives in the Highlands.


* William E. Summers IV will serve in the Fischer administration for six months as senior advisor to the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer. Summers is currently Deputy Mayor for Mayor Jerry Abramson. He will help ensure a smooth transition between governments, provide counsel to the new administration, and share the significant institutional knowledge he has from his more than two decades of experience in the city government.


* Pat Mulvihill as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and General Counsel. Mulvihill will manage relations between the state and federal governments and between the mayor and the Metro Council and serve as General Counsel to the Mayor. Mulvihill, 40, was a member of the Greater Louisville Merger Transition Task Force and Co-Director of the Merger Transition Office. He is currently a litigator and legal advisor with the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office and has previously worked at several Louisville law firms. He has been the legal representative for several city government agencies, and he earned a JD from the University of Louisville. He lives in Audubon Park.


* Sadiqa Reynolds as Chief of Community Building. Reynolds, 38, will oversee numerous agencies including the Department of Health & Wellness, Housing & Family Services and cultural attractions, such as the Louisville Zoo and Louisville Science Center. Reynolds is a former District Court Judge and has been on the board of the Home of the Innocents, Maryhurst, Habitat for Humanity and the Bates Community Development Corp. She earned a JD from University of Kentucky and lives in Glen Oaks.


* Ron Weston as special assistant to the Mayor and as a member of the Intergovernmental Affairs team. Weston, 62, is a current state representative from Southwest Louisville and was the first president of the Louisville Metro Council. He will join the Fischer administration in a part-time role and, along with others to be named later, will manage relations between the state and federal governments and between the mayor and the Metro Council as well as special assignments as they arise. He lives in Fairdale.


* Steve Rowland as Chief Financial Officer. Rowland, 58, was the former Chief Financial Advisor to Jefferson County Government from 1990 to 1998 and worked under four governors in the Office of Policy and Management. He is currently a co-owner of SKP Properties, which manages apartments and homes. He earned a BA from Eastern Kentucky University and lives in Pewee Valley.


* Kellie Watson as Director of Human Resources. Watson, 36, is currently executive director of the Office of Human Resources Management at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. She is also acting director for the Office for Civil Rights and Small Business Development in the Cabinet. She also is a former executive director of the Louisville Metro Government Human Relations Commission. She earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University and has been involved in the Louisville Urban League Young Professionals, Jack and Jill Inc. and the Ignite Louisville program through Leadership Louisville. She lives downtown.


* Adria Johnson as acting director of Housing and Family Services. Johnson is currently that department’s assistant director and was hired into Metro Government in 2005. She has significant private sector experience, including at Brown & Williamson, LG&E and Humana.

Besides Sadiqa Reynolds, there are no "fresh faces" in this group. Reynolds recently lost a reelection bid for District Court and her talents are thoroughly underutilized in this position. She deserves more than an empty title.

What do you think of the appointments thus far? Do you trust Fischer's judgment? Do you really believe Fischer is the one calling the shots here? Sound off in the "Comments" section.

Wick's Pizza closes Valley location

The owners of Wick's Pizza decided on November 14th to close their Valley Station location. The store's phone number has a recording thanking patrons "for 7 great years", and urges customers to visit their other locations.

Wick's is closed

Wick's is doing well in other areas of Louisville and Southern Indiana, and has obviously decided to invest in the stores that provide the greatest return. The Valley store was long rumored to be just getting by. The bar side of the restaurant closed weeks ago and last week, the whole store shut its doors for good.

Yet another reminder of how important it is for us to support our locally-owned businesses.

Smoke, falling ash and failing candidates - Monday Update

- A decision is expected today that could affect Jeff Donohue's candidacy for state representative in the 37th district. HERE is the background on the case.  More as it happens.

- Wildfires in and around Fort Knox have blanketed the Southwest area in smoke and falling ash. Crews are making headway in fighting the fires and, with rain expected again tomorrow, the end is near for unhealthy air. Breathe easy. [CJ]

- There was also a small fire in Iroquois Park early this morning. Officials say it may have been caused by a cigarette thrown from a window by a moronic motorist. [FOX41]

- In an interview with WHAS11, Rand Paul says he'd stop OSHA from creating new rules that protect worker safety and wants a regulatory environment like China's. That's just weird and stupid. [WHAS11]

- Courtesy of Insider Louisville, here is a look at the 2010 Louisville Mayoral campaign and the positions of the two candidates on the issues. [Insider Louisville]