Quick Link Archives from January-April 2008
Orchard Grass Hills Sewer Plant's Future is on the Line (Courier-Journal, Apr 2, 2008)
Easement Aims to Protect Dogwood Hill, (Courier-Journal, Mar 26, 2008)
County Stormwater Fees Proposed (Courier-Journal, Feb 20, 2008)
New County Tourism Web (Courier-Journal, Feb 20, 2008)
Norton Commons Fire Station Breaks Ground (Courier-Journal, Feb 20, 2008)
Jefferson County Environmental Land Trust Receives Easements (Courier-Journal, Feb 19, 2008)
Housing Slump: Builders Cut Back Plans for 2008 (Courier-Journal, Jan 23, 2008)
Land Trust Formed for Henry, Owen, and Franklin Counties (Courier-Journal, Jan 3, 2008)
Briar Hill Woods Letter to the Editor (Oldham Era, Jan 3, 2008)
Quick Link Archives from 2007
Briar Hill Development Approved Despite Residents' Arguments (Courier-Journal, Dec 26, 2007)
Equus Development Approved (December 19, 2007)
Oldham County Equine Council Equine Survey (November 2007)
August 2007 Oldham Ahead Newsletter
July 25: Court of Appeals Upholds Planning and Zoning Decision on Oldham Farms (Courier-Journal)
Read the Court of Appeals Decision
July 25: County Receives $1.4 million Roads and Trails Grant (Courier-Journal)
July 19: Oldham Era Story on the Vision Council Report
July 18: Orchard Grass Hills Sewer Problems being Studied, Courier-Journal
July 18: Zoning Rejected for 37 Home, Woods of GlenOaks, Courier-Journal
July 17: Oldham County Vision Council Report to Oldham County Fiscal Court
July 17: Oldham County Vision Council Presentation to Fiscal Court
July 5: Oldham Era Opinion on Hwy 42 Cell Tower Issue
June 28: Planners Reject Cell Tower on Hwy 42
April 18: Oldham County Sewer District Countywide Facilities Plan Presentation
April 18: Countywide Facilities Plan Fact Sheet, Oldham County Sewer District
Planning and Zoning 2006 Annual Report Released
March 22, 2007: Oldham County Population Estimate Fact Sheet
Oldham County Equine Council is Formed
Greenways for Oldham County has new website
New Housing Unit Permits Exceed 4,600 since 2000
Oldham County Agriculture Industry 44th in State with 2006 Cash Receipts Near $26 million
President Signs into Law Expansion of Tax Incentive for Conservation
Download our August 2007 Newsletter
Visitors View Spring Digital Photo Exhibit during Oldham County Day on July 15th
Oldham Ahead White Paper Promotes Implementation of Capital Improvement Planning for County Government
February 27, 2006
CRESTWOOD, Ky. – Oldham Ahead released a White Paper today promoting the implementation of Capital Improvement Planning, Programming, and Budgeting processes in the county. Oldham Ahead believes adoption of this fundamental governmental planning and programming process will assist county officials in planning for and synchronizing future infrastructure and capital improvement requirements in one of the fastest growing counties in Kentucky and the United States.
The White Paper, titled “The Case for Capital Improvement Planning (CIP), Programming and Budgeting for Oldham County”, argues that the implementation of the CIP process provides a set of tools to bring all of the county’s major government and public service provider players together to develop a framework to identify future capital expenditures and their funding sources. CIPs typically project capital improvement requirements over a five-to-six year period. CIPs are useful to help communities prioritize major expenditures and identify corresponding personnel and other operational and maintenance costs associated with major projects.
Capital Improvement Planning, Programming and Budgeting are widely used at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels throughout the United States. The process is a key element of the Land Use and Community Facilities goals of Outlook 2020—the County’s Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2002. However, the process has not been implemented to date. The White Paper does not call for a consolidation of programs and budgets that are presently dispersed in the multiple governmental and utility organizations within the county. Rather, it calls for the sharing of long-range programming and budgeting information and the creation of one dynamic document to capture the myriad of capital improvement plans presently programmed, but not necessarily fully coordinated among county agencies.
Advantages of Capital Improvement Planning, Programming and Budget include the promotion of the wise use of taxpayer monies; the focusing on community needs, priorities and capabilities; community input and support; and transparency. The process also promotes county-wide coordination of all government bodies, departments, and commissions and will provide critical information for citizens to develop area master plans in the county’s eight planning areas.
Oldham County Judge-Executive Mary Ellen Kinser announced in the February 7, 2006 Fiscal Court meeting that the county is applying for a $70,000 grant from the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency to develop a local five-year transportation improvement program that establishes the principles for ranking transportation projects within the county. The program would be designed to be a model that could be exported to other counties within the Commonwealth.
Oldham Ahead believes this is an important first step and that full implementation of a comprehensive county CIP is critical to effectively manage the challenges of future growth for the 4th fastest growing county in the Commonwealth. “We hope the paper will serve as a basis for discussion and action by county officials and public infrastructure providers,” stated Oldham Ahead Executive Director Doug Wampler.
Click here to read and download the White Paper.
Click here to read the Oldham Era article of April 6, 2006.
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Note: The
Oldham County Water District has posted its 20-year plan on line at
www.oldhamcountywater.com.
Click on "District Improvements" to review the plan and accompanying maps.
Oldham Ahead and The Oldham Era Host Magistrate Voter Forum
22 of 23 Candidates for 8 Magistrate Positions Participate During April 30 Forum
Candidates from Districts 5 - 8 Addressing Questions (Photo courtesy of The Oldham Era)
From Left: Horrace Harrod, Jerry Bom and Iva Davis from District 5; Bill Tucker, Scott Davis and Darlene Rusnak from District 6; Rick Rash and Bob Dye from District 7; Bob Deibel, Steve Long and Linda Patton from District 8
Oldham Ahead and The Oldham Era sponsored an Oldham County Magistrate Candidate Voter Forum on Sunday, April 30 at the Oldham County Arts Center in Crestwood.
The forum provided voters the opportunity to match faces to names and for the candidates to express their views and proposed solutions to growth, economic development, parks and open space, seniors, and fiscal court cohesion issues.
All 23 candidates for the 8 Magistrate seats agreed to participate, but District 1 incumbent Paula Gish (who is running unopposed) was forced to withdraw due to recent surgery.
Oldham Ahead would like to thank all of the candidates for their participation as well as all voters who exercised their privilege to vote on Tuesday, May 16.
The May 4 edition of the Oldham Era contains quotes from the candidates as they clarified their views for Oldham County and answered five questions drafted by Era reporters. The May 11 Era includes a special supplement "Guide to the Polls" that profiles all candidates and their positions on a number of issues.
From the Oldham County Conservation District
Woodland Farm Receives the Outstanding Cooperator Award
The Oldham County Soil and Water Conservation District recognizes individual clients who, through their conservation efforts, make lasting contributions and impacts towards the conservation of our county’s natural resources. This year, the Outstanding Cooperator Award was presented to Woodland Farm of Greenhaven Lane. Woodland Farm, an American Buffalo operation owned by Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown and managed by Mike Suter. Besides transforming the 1197 acre farm to rolling hillsides of native grasses, protecting the woodlands and converting crop fields to hay and meadows, the owners placed a conservation easement on the land, assuring that it will forever remain a farm. Their effort of stewardship not only helps to protect the land but also provides a needed greenspace that contributes to water quality and the scenic beauty of the Ohio River Valley.
Click here to visit the Oldham County Conservation District website.
41 Oldham County Historic Places Listed in the National RegistryThe National Registry currently lists 41 Oldham County historical places in its listing as of 31 May 2006. The registry is maintained by the Department of Interior can can be accessed at www.cr.nps.gov/nr. Click here to review the places and historic districts of Oldham County.
Museum Plaza Plans Unveiled for Downtown Louisville
Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson Lead the Effort
Oldham County residents and Oldham Ahead Board Members Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson believe that, by making downtown Louisville a more vibrant and attractive place to live, they can curb the suburban sprawl that is impacting surrounding counties, to include Oldham County.
Translating desires into action, they have spearheaded the design of the dramatic Museum Plaza in downtown Louisville in part to address the pressures the lack of a vibrant city place on outlying counties.
As long time supporters of managed growth and conservation efforts in Oldham County, they were instrumental in the founding of Oldham Ahead and have placed a conservation easement on their property, Woodland Farm.
Wilson told the Courier-Journal’s Chris Poynter that "We began to understand the dynamics of suburban sprawl and what causes it -- as farmland is eaten up, city centers are deserted. That's what brought us to Main Street."
The principals of the project, Laura Lee Brown, Steve Wilson, Steve Poe, Craig Greenberg, and lead architect Joshua Prince-Ramus provided the Courier-Journal staff writer access to the creative process of designing Museum Plaza.
The Vision:
“There will soon be a new, exciting place to live and visit in the heart of Louisville. Created by world renowned architects, it will attract tourists from around the country and the globe. It will transform downtown into a world class arts and entertainment mecca.
The new, non-profit, contemporary art museum will be dedicated to displaying innovative art of all mediums created by leading living artists. Museum Plaza will be an amazing, iconic building designed by one of the top architectural firms in the world, OMA led by Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus.”
The Kentucky Society of Architects (AIA Kentucky) presented Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown an Award of Recognition on September 16, 2005 in Indianapolis, Indiana, at ceremonies during its annual convention, held in conjunction with architects in Indiana and Ohio. The awards recognize outstanding service to the Kentucky Society of Architects and the profession of architecture in Kentucky.
Steve and Laura Lee won the John Russell Groves Citizens Laureate Award, which honors an individual and advocate who consistently, though leadership service and dedication to a better living environment, has openly supported and encouraged the values of quality architecture. They have provided many years of leadership and financial support for programs and projects that have promoted the cultural and intellectual promise of Louisville's downtown and its citizens. Steve and Laura Lee have been powerful forces in elevating the public's awareness of - and appreciation for - good design and its important role in the city's civic and cultural history.
We invite you to the official Museum Plaza website at www.museumplaza.net to view photos, video, and read descriptions of the project that will improve the overall quality of life in the Metro Louisville area and the region. View the website’s flyover video rendering of Museum Plaza by clicking here or this link: http://museumplaza.net/video_wmv.html.
Click here to access the Courier-Journal’s on-line comprehensive coverage of Museum Plaza. (Navigate to the right side of the home page to "Worth a Click", and then navigate to Museum Plaza.)
Click here to access the Oldham Era's coverage of Museum Plaza from its March 17 on-line edition.
Oldham Ahead Spring Digital Photo Contest Winners
Oldham Ahead sponsored a Spring Digital Photo contest that ran from April 1 through May 15 to capture the beauty of Oldham County in the springtime. The contest was open to students (K-12) and adults. The theme of the contest was “My Favorite Oldham County Spring Scene”.
Oldham Ahead Board Member Laura Lee Brown--a recognized artist, photographer, critic, and collector judged the student and adult entries, noting that she was impressed by all of the entries and particularly those selected as winning entries.
The winners in the student category are:
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1st Place |
Emily McCarthy |
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2nd Place |
Candice Call |
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3rd Place |
Chelsea Corbin |
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The winners in the adult category are:
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1st Place |
Dale McMakin |
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2nd Place |
Karen Blum |
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3rd Place |
Sara Marquette |
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Winning entries received prizes in the amount of $100 for first place; $50 for second place, and $25 for third place. Eleven adults and six students entered the contest. As expected, the talent of the individuals participating in the contest and the quality of their entries was absolutely superb.
Second-place winner Candice Call stopped by the Oldham Ahead booth during Oldham County Day on July 15.
We invite you to click here or on the tab to your left to view the contest entries and enjoy Oldham County’s springtime beauty.
Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board Endorses Listing Wildwood Farm on the National Register of Historic Places
The Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board has endorsed listing Wildwood Farm on the National Register of Historic Places, which should help keep the property intact. The National Park Service will make the final decision on the listing.
Wildwood Farm was one of the county's first farms to breed thoroughbreds, becoming one of the largest racing stables in the Midwest, according to research by Cynthia Johnson, a historic preservation consultant hired by the landowner--Oldham Ahead member Stephen Campbell. Mr. Campbell is taking the steps to obtain recognition of his property on the National Register to preserve the historic farm for future generations.
Click here to read the Louisville Courier-Journal article on this positive event for Oldham County.
For additional information on preserving Kentucky's rich historic past, visit the Kentucky Heritage Council Web site at www.heritage.ky.gov/national_register.htm.
Click here to read and download "Planning to Preserve: 2004 State Historic Preservation Plan for the Commonwealth of Kentucky."
Kentucky Geological Survey Publishes New Oldham County Map to Assist Land-Use Planning: The Kentucky Geological Survey at the University of Kentucky has published a map for non-geologists which can assist Oldham County officials, developers, and residents in considering future development of Oldham County. "The Generalized Geologic Map for Land-Use Planning: Oldham County Kentucky" is one in a series being developed for each county in the Commonwealth.
The
maps are intended to help local officials and developers become familiar with
the underlying geology of areas that are subject to development. The
colorful large-format map illustrates all of the major rock categories found in
the county, along with other features such as water wells and springs,
sinkholes, and artificially filled areas which should be considered when
planning roads and buildings. It also points out that agricultural land is
being rapidly converted to residential developments and that development creates
more runoff from surfaces like rooftops and streets.
Click here for additional information and ordering information.
Oldham County Growth Surges (Louisville Courier-Journal, 19 April 2006)
Sprawl, Growth Issues Highlighted in October Oldham Era, Louisville Courier-Journal, and Louisville Voice-Tribune Newspaper Articles
The three Louisville/Oldham County-area newspapers published timely and informative articles and editorials involving the effects of sprawl and growth on Oldham County during October. We urge you to read the articles if you did not have an opportunity to read them in your newspaper of choice when originally printed.
Click the titles below to view the articles:
The Oldham Era Online, October 13, 2005: A Sprawling Community, A Look at the Effects of Suburban Sprawl on Oldham County by Danielle Komis. The Voice-Tribune reprinted this article on its front page of its October 20 issue.
The Oldham Era Online, October 21, 2005: Opinion: Urban Sprawl Can Be Stopped.
The Louisville Courier-Journal, October 29, 2005: Shelby Looks at Reining in Growth. This article by Michael Lindenberger cites Oldham County's experiences in looking at the impacts of growth in Shelby County.
Kentucky
Geological Survey Publishes New Oldham County Map to Assist Land-Use Planning:
The Kentucky Geological Survey at the University of Kentucky has published a map
for non-geologists which can assist Oldham County officials, developers, and
residents in considering future development of Oldham County. "The
Generalized Geologic Map for Land-Use Planning: Oldham County Kentucky" is
one in a series being developed for each county in the Commonwealth.
The maps are intended to help local officials and developers become familiar with the underlying geology of areas that are subject to development. The colorful large-format map illustrates all of the major rock categories found in the county, along with other features such as water wells and springs, sinkholes, and artificially filled areas which should be considered when planning roads and buildings. It also points out that agricultural land is being rapidly converted to residential developments and that development creates more runoff from surfaces like rooftops and streets.
A section of the map called "Planning Guidance by Rock Unit Type" describes features of each major geologic formation in the county and how whose features may impact future development.
Full-color paper copies are available for $10 each from the KGS Public Information Center on the UK campus at (859) 257-3896 or toll-free at (877) 778-7827.
The entire map can be viewed online in PDF format at the Survey's Web site, http://kgsweb.uky.edu/download/geology/landuse/lumaps.htm, or click here.
April 2006 Newsletter Mailed
We mailed our latest newsletter on April 10. Please contact us at oldhamahead@aol.com if you would like to receive a copy in the mail, or click here to join Oldham Ahead and request your newsletter in the remarks section.
Our August 20, 2005 newsletter is also available upon request.
Oldham Ahead sponsors Quality of Life and Growth public opinion survey; releases results on January 8, 2002:
Oldham Ahead, a non-profit citizens group with about 550 members, contracted with Horizon Research International of Louisville, KY to conduct a survey of Oldham County residents and assess opinions regarding quality of life, growth management, economic development and future development of Oldham County. The survey was conducted between Nov. 15 and Dec. 4, 2001, and was completed by 400 adults over 21 years old with a mix of incomes, ages, gender and length of residency in Oldham County. The survey had a 5 percent margin of error.
To view background information and generalized results of the survey, Click Here.
To view the details of the survey in a 64-slide PowerPoint Presentation, Click Here or on the pie chart below:
December
2001 Newsletter: Click
here to read the latest newsletter from Oldham Ahead.
