RESOLUTION No. __________, Series 2015
TITLE
A RESOLUTION URGING THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PASS THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO MERGE THE SUBURBAN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY WITH THE LOUISVILLE DIVISION OF FIRE.
BODY
Sponsored By: (Withdrawn)
WHEREAS, on November 4, 2000, the voters of this community elected to merge the governments of the City of Louisville and Jefferson County, KY by approving House Bill (HB) 647 known as "The Merger Bill" and which was incorporated into Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) Chapter 67C; and
WHEREAS, in January 2003, the City of Louisville and Jefferson County officially merged into one governmental body called Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government or Louisville Metro for short; and
WHEREAS, at the same time KRS Chapter 67C was amended to include an Urban Service District, KRS 67C.113 was also revised to insure the continued existence of taxing and service districts located within the territory of the newly formed merged government; and
WHEREAS, upon the formation of Louisville Metro Government, residents living in the old boundaries of the City of Louisville continued to reside in what is known as the Urban Service District; and
WHEREAS, those residents living in the Urban Service District are protected by the Louisville Division of Fire, a KRS Chapter 95 Municipal Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, also upon the formation of Louisville Metro Government, residents living in the old boundaries outside the former City of Louisville, continue to reside in what is known as the Suburban Service Area; and
WHEREAS, residents living the Suburban Service Area, are protected by seventeen (17) KRS Chapter 75 fire protection districts; and
WHEREAS, the Louisville Division of Fire employs over 500 career firefighters and covers 65 square miles; and
WHEREAS, the Suburban Service Area of Jefferson County is comprised of a combined 1,100 volunteer and career or paid firefighters and encompasses more than 300 square miles; and
WHEREAS, upon merger, numerous governmental agencies were combined from the previous local governments including the police, purchasing, public works, parks, etc.; and
WHEREAS, since merger, several suburban fire protection districts have already merged with one another including Black Mudd and Edgewood merging with the Okolona Fire Protection District and South Dixie Fire merging with the Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District; and
WHEREAS, entering into the 12th year of existence since merger, the Council respectfully requests the Kentucky General Assembly to enact the necessary legislation to merge the 17 remaining suburban fire protections districts with the Louisville Division of Fire; and
WHEREAS, such legislation would have to take into account provisions of KRS 67C.145 which prescribes those allowances allowed in the alteration of service districts, separate taxing districts and changing of boundaries; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT (THE COUNCIL) AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: The Council respectfully requests the Kentucky General Assembly to enact the necessary legislation to merge the 17 remaining suburban fire protection districts with the Louisville Division of Fire.
SECTION II: The Council asks the General Assembly to enact this legislation in the most expedient manner possible.
SECTION III: This Resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval.
_______________________________ H. Stephen Ott Metro Council Clerk |
_____________________________ David Tandy President of the Council |
_______________________________ Greg Fischer Mayor |
_____________________________ Approval Date |
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O'Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
BY: ____________________________
Urge Gen'l.Assembly to Merge Suburban FDs w-LFD R-282-14 Johnson ROC bkn 120514 Draft 1 120514
Urge Gen'l.Assembly to Merge Suburban FDs w-LFD R-282-14 Johnson ROC bkn 120514 Draft 2 120814
Urge Gen'l.Assembly to Merge Suburban FDs w-LFD R-282-14; R-043-15 Johnson ROC bkn 021815 Draft 3 021815