(This page is an abbreviated version of the City’s New Resident Booklet.
A full copy of the booklet may be obtained at City Hall)

Government
Prospect is a Mayor-Council form of government. The Mayor is in charge of the executive branch and the City Council, which is made up of six members, makes the ordinances which govern the City.

The Mayor serves a four-year term and six City Council members serve for two years. Elections are on a non-partisan basis and are held in November.

There is no judicial branch in City Government. Jefferson County has a unified court system under which all traffic and criminal fines and fees are collected by the County; however, a Code Review Board hears cases involving local City ordinances.

A professional staff consisting of a City Administrator, Deputy Clerk for Administration, Deputy Clerk for Finance and Director of Maintenance and Technology, work at City Hall.

Police Protection
The Police Department, which has a staff of nine full-time officers headed by a Chief, has headquarters in City Hall.

Fire Protection
Fire protection is not a function of City Government. The Harrods Creek Volunteer Fire Department, a very modern and fully-equipped fire-fighting force, provides services for Prospect residents. While the department has two fire houses, both of which are staffed full-time, the closest one is at 8905 U.S. 42.

Chief Cris Aponte is in charge of the Fire Department. He can be reached at 228-1351.
For a fire emergency, call 911.


Garbage and Recycling
Prospect is the only City in Jefferson County to provide twice-weekly back-door garbage and once-weekly back-door recycling pickups. In addition, the City provides curbside once-a-week pickup of yard waste (leaves and grass clippings).

Garbage pickup is on Monday and Thursday for half of the City and on Tuesday and Friday for the remainder. Recycling pickup is on the second garbage pickup day of the week and yard waste pickup is on the first garbage day.  Call the City Hall, 228-1121, to determine your days.

You do not need to sort household recycling items. The sorting is done by the City Hall contractor. If you have moved into an existing residence, a green recycling container should have been left for you to use. If you have moved into a new residence, or there is no container, please call City Hall for a new one.

Yard waste, which is grass clippings and leaves, is done year-around. However, please call the City Hall contractor at 568-3800 during the months of December, January, February, and March if you have such items to be picked up. Yard waste must be placed in paper bags or separate containers. Plastic bags are acceptable.

Branches must be tied in bundles no longer than four feet with cotton twine weighing no more than 40 lbs. and placed at curb. Large items (except appliances with Freon), sometimes picked up as a part of “trash day” in other cities, will be picked up at any time. If you have an unusually large amount of such items, please alert our contractor ahead of time.

If a garbage, recycling or yard waste pickup is missed on your regular day, please call the contractor at 568-3800. Usually, the makeup will be the next day. If the problem persists, please report it to City Hall.


City Newsletter, Minutes, and E-Mail
Your City is dedicated to keeping all residents informed about its activities. The Mayor and City Council believe that only through informing residents of what the City is doing can it be responsible to you.

The “Prospect City Newsletter” and “Official Minutes” of the City Council are printed and mailed to every resident on a monthly basis. Among items in the “Newsletter” is a rundown on what will be coming up at the next Council meeting. Residents are encouraged to attend meetings and can participate in discussions on issues which interest them.

The "E-Mail" is a resident option. You may add your e-mail address by sending it to CityMaint@ProspectKY.com. You will recieve all the current information on City Hall Activities and reminders of City Meetings.

The “Minutes” are the official record of the Council’s actions. Because these must be approved by the Council, they generally run a month behind. However, you can obtain “unofficial” minutes by subscribing to an e-mail version.


Building Permits
Generally, any improvements which you make outside your home requires a building permit from the City as does a re-modeling project. Also included are fences, swimming pools, sprinkler systems, additions and the like. It does not include driveways, mailboxes, or landscaping.

Permits must be obtained at City Hall. Most contractors are familiar with the process but you are responsible for seeing that the permit is obtained. If construction is begun without a permit, a stop-work order and/or a fine may be imposed.

Residents who build in-ground swimming pools (no above-ground pools are allowed in the City) must also obtain a permit from the County and from the County Board of Health.

You should be aware many areas of the City have deed restrictions which may be more restrictive than City ordinances. Read your deed restrictions before you decide to build.


Right of Way/Easement
Your yard extends through what is called the City’s right-of-way to the street. Although the City has a right-of-way, it is your obligation to maintain it, i.e., to mow the lawn, take care of trees and so on.

The City has the right to use the right-of-way, so please be sure you do not, as an example, place sprinkler system components in the right-of-way. If we have to dig up the right of way or pave the street, we are not obligated to repair anything in the right-of-way.

An easement is a part of your property the City (or public utilities) can use for specific purposes, such as sewage or drainage pipes. While you are generally prohibited from constructing or planting anything in an easement, the City is generally tolerant of your doing so – with the understanding that if we do have to do work in the easement, we will not replace anything we may damage or remove.

You can check easements on your property by looking at the survey of your lot.


Speed Limits
Except for U.S. 42, which is a State highway, the speed limit on all streets in the City is either 20 or 25 miles per hour.


Snow Removal
The City has a designated snow-cleaning plan, which targets the main thoroughfares first, with special attention paid to hilly areas. Generally, Fox Harbor Road and Hunting Creek Drive will be cleaned first, followed by Bridgepointe Boulevard and Timber Ridge Drive.

The snow removal plan is for the main streets to be kept clear as much as possible, for secondary main streets to be worked next and secondary streets to be attended to last. Every cul-de-sac street is last on the list on the theory that if the main road is not clear, there is nowhere to go safely anyway.

U.S. 42 is cleaned by the State, not the City. The City has no control over when snow plows will clear this highway.


Animals
No domestic animal (non-domestic animals are not allowed in the City) may be loose in Prospect. County and City ordinances both require an animal to be under the control of a person at all times. If you have a fence (including an invisible fence if your pet is wearing a control collar) then the animal is considered under your control. Even if under your control, you must abide by the City’s “pooper-scooper” ordinance.

Animals found roaming free will be caught by the Police or Jefferson County Animal Control officers. When caught by Prospect Police, the animal will be placed in a cage at City Hall until Animal Control picks it up. Prospect Police will attempt to contact a pet’s owner if it has a tag.
You are subject to a City fine and County penalties if your pet is picked up. In addition, the County’s animal shelter is on the other side of the County, so it is to your advantage to reclaim any pet you have as quickly as possible.


City Ordinances
The City has a number of ordinances on a variety of subjects. You are invited to visit City Hall at any time and read the entire context of any ordinance. At your request, we can also make copies of ordinances for a small photocopying charge.

A few of the specifics of some of our ordinances are:
• You cannot have an above-ground pool in the City. Wading pools no deeper than one foot nor greater than eight feet in diameter are not considered above-ground pools.

• Swimming pools must be surrounded by a fence.

• You cannot have a satellite dish more than 39.7 inches in diameter. Dishes may only be in back or side yards and screened from “public view.”

• You cannot have a chain-link fence in the City. You cannot have any fence in the front yard.

• You must have a permit to bring a boat, camper or mobile home into the City. The Police can issue a permit to allow such vehicles to be at your home for a limited amount of time. No large trucks are allowed to be parked in Prospect.

• No one is permitted to solicit for donations or sell items in the City without a permit. If someone comes to your door for such a purpose, please notify the Police. Neighborhood children selling items such as Girl Scout cookies and Band candy are generally exempt from this ordinance.

• You cannot maintain a public nusiance in the City. Structures in dilapidated condition, high grass, loud noise, barking dogs and the like are considered nusiances.

• Outbuildings are prohibited on lots of less than three acres.


Signage
In residential areas, you are limited to one sign on each lot (excepting political signs 30 days before any election). While you may not place signs anywhere in the City other than on your property, signs for yard sales and the like are usually not banned so long as they are up only when the sale itself is in progress.

Commercial signs are permitted in residential areas during period a contractor is providing service. At no time are signs and/or balloons permitted on public property.


Landscaping
Generally, the open areas in the City – in areas around the entrances to subdivisions and in traffic islands in particular – are City property and are maintained by the City. The City also plants flowers and the garden clubs and homeowner associations are encouraged to augment these plantings, if they wish.

Some areas still under development are maintained by the developers. The City has no responsibility for these areas.


Street Signs and Street Lights
The City furnishes street signs (both of a directional and traffic control variety) and street lights in areas under its control. If you believe a street sign or street light is needed, please contact City Hall.

Private streets and areas still under development may not be under City control. We can tell you whether the area about which you are interested has been dedicated to the City.


Sewer Fees
The Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) maintains three sewer treatment plants and collects sewer fees through the Louisville Water Co.


Property Taxes
You will get two property tax bills: one from the County (which includes the Harrods Creek Fire Protection District, School Taxes and County property taxes) and another from the City.

The City’s current tax rate is 21.25 cents per $100 of assessed valuation of your property. Prospect taxes are due by October 1st of each year, with fees added for late payment. The additional fees, through December, are shown on the bill. After January 1, taxes are considered delinquent and additional fees will be assessed. If you escrow taxes with your mortgage company, it is your responsibility to get the bill to the lender.

The City does not assess property. This is done by the County Property Valuation Assessor (PVA). If you wish to dispute your assessment, contact the PVA at 574-6380.

Fourth of July
Prospect’s Fourth of July is always a lot of fun! Practically since the City was founded, we have had an “at home” fireworks display and, in 1994, we inaugurated a parade and community assembly to go along with the fireworks.

Prizes are awarded for the best decorated “floats,” which generally consist of residents’ cars, golf carts, kids’ bike and the like. Watch the “Newsletter” for details of this year’s event.


Holiday Decorations
Entrances to the subdivisions in the City are primarily decorated by neighborhood groups for the Holiday season. If you are interested in working with one of these groups, call City Hall for the name of the person in charge in your subdivision.



Voter Registration
You’ll want to be involved in your new community, and the best way to do that is to register to vote. To get voter registration cards, please call the Jefferson County Clerk’s office at 625-5700 or the Oldham County Clerk’s office at 222-0047. Oldham voter cards should be returned to Oldham Voter Registration, 100 W. Jefferson Street, LaGrange, KY 40031.


An Afterword
Prospect is your city. While you, of course, pay the taxes which finance its operation, of greater importance is the fact that every elected official and employee is dedicated to making Prospect the kind of City you want it to be.

Please call, e-mail or write to the Mayor, City Council Members, City Administrator or Police Chief if you have any ideas, praise, criticism or suggestions on how to make Prospect a better place to live. Everyone will take your input very seriously and do their best to consider and respond to you.