The Louisville Metro Public Safety Committee met on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 4:02 PM in Council Chambers and virtually. Chair Dan Seum Jr. presided. The committee received an update on mid‑year crime trends and the Summer Task Force from LMPD, postponed a late‑night business security ordinance for further discussion, and unanimously advanced an ordinance aligning local secondary metals recycling rules with new state law.
And you can visit libraries across the city to really connect with the pleasure of learning and discovery. We thought when we had uh ventured into an accelerator in the West End that we would be looking at traditional needs, um, technical assistance, bookkeeping, accounting, uh marketing, things of that nature. We found that there were at least eight other areas that we had to address with our small businesses. Um, we also thought we would get to wealth creation very quickly, whereby the businesses could buy the buildings um that we were repairing and putting them in. Um, we had a lot of help from Leadership Louisville, and our board, which started from Leadership Louisville, has understood that when you are repairing vacant and abandoned property and or historic properties, the level of investment is significantly more than if you're going on an open lot and just putting a new building there. And so we started looking at all of these comprehensive issues, and I just want you to know we found that not only did those businesses need the areas of traditional business capacity building, but they needed a numerous other areas. And so we are excited about the fact that some of our businesses have gone from $10,000 a month to $57,000 a month in a year, um, with the right kinds of help being brought to the table. And a lot of that was because of our congressman Morgan McGarvey getting us the SBA money. So I just want to let you all know when you get the $900,000 investment in small business, even though it sounds like a lot, it's not enough to get us over the hurdles that we're dealing with because we have numerous people all across the city, small businesses that need investment and assistance to grow their businesses. Twenty-two years ago, Louisville's four largest institutions came together to form the partnership for a green city. Today, that partnership represents 30,000 employees and reaches 135,000 students each year. I'm sure some of those students were you. The Founders Award honors individuals whose service has fundamentally shaped the partnership for a green city and advanced sustainability across Louisville. I'm honored to congratulate Louisville Metro's executive director of parks and recreation, Michelle King. Come on up, Michelle. The partnership for Green City has truly been formative in my work with Lowell Metro government. It's a do not a did, and that's what sustainability is. There is always another kilowatt to be saved. There's always another student to be reached, and there's always the opportunity for these four great partners to show leadership for our city. We continue to honor the life and legacy of Colonel John E. Aubrey, a man whose commitment to public safety and service defined more than five decades of his life. He led with integrity, steadiness, and a deep sense of responsibility to the people he served. Today we are going to dedicate the street sign. We do more than remember. We affirm that his impact will not be forgotten. We're honored to be able to dedicate this corner of the street to Colonel John E. Aubrey. It is appropriate that to call Colonel Aubrey's long tenure an example for all of us new to public office. His tenure has been an inspiration to all of us in public office at all levels and in every level of government. And I'm honored to play a small role today in honoring his legacy. He would cause us all to vibrate with his thoughts, his passion, his love for people, his love for law enforcement, his love for the job at the sheriff's office. That's a testament to all the sheriff's deputies that are standing here today. He struck a note with them all. He struck a note with you all. That's why you're here today to recognize Sheriff Aubrey. We carry him with us in everything that we do, and we exude his impression that he left upon us. Today is a big day in District One, and for the families who live along the Lees Lane corridor. We are proud to officially announce the Lee's Lane sidewalk and drainage project, a major investment in safety, infrastructure, and quality of life for this community. This project will bring new sidewalks and critical drainage improvements, replacing updated and unsafe conditions, and creating a safer, more accessible environment for residents. And I'm especially excited to say the funding for this project has been fully secured. We're spending 457,000 right here for the safety of this community. The one thing I just want to give you some facts about uh the start of the project. Lee's Lane, as most of you all know, this is Kentucky 2051. This is a state route. So we've had uh we will be partnering with KYTC to work within their right of way. We'll be getting an encroachment permit and providing any of our plans just to get their approval throughout the whole process. Uh, we've decided this is a project that we can do in house. It will actually save the project money from having to go outside to do a consultant. That savings is reflected in what can be built, what can be utilized for this project. So that that was a real win when we felt to work with the councilwoman on this project.