LEBANON JUNCTION – When property owners received their annual tax bills, there should have been a sense of relief.

The Lebanon Junction City Council, to be in compliance with House Bill 44, recently voted to lower the rate on real property.

The council voted to lower the rate of 29.42 cents per $100 of assessed real property to 23.69 cents.

For a $100,000 home, the tax payment would go from $294.20 to $236.90, a significant drop.

If tax bills were paid within 30 days that the notices were sent out, another 2 percent discount. Penalties will be enforced if bills are not paid by the end of December 2023.

Personal property tax rates would also be 23.69 cents for each $100 of assessed property.

Public service companies, such as utilities, would pay 34 cents per $100 of assessed property.

In other business:

*Tara O’Hagan, director of the Bullitt County Public Library System, spoke to the council about plans for the local branch.

She said work has started to “refresh” the Lebanon Junction branch. That work includes interior and exterior painting, new landscaping, new carpet and a memorial garden to honor three fire victims who lived across the street from the library.

A new exterior sign is also planned.

O’Hagan said the Lebanon Junction library has the same services as other facilities in the county. There is also a long list of services and programs which are available to the community.

The popular Library of Things – where individuals with library cards can borrow items instead of buying them – is available at all the five facilities.

Her request for the community was for people to utilize the services available at the Lebanon Junction branch. If there is something the facility doesn’t currently provide, O’Hagan said people should let her know.

*The council approved the text amendment outlining new requirements for landscaping if the development is in an industrial zone.

For a community which has five warehouse facilities in its immediate future, the council unanimously approved the stricter landscaping requirements.

*The fire department made 40 runs in September and the police department responded to 158 calls for service.

Police chief Terry Phillips said that with five officers available, the city has better around-the-clock coverage.

Radar has been run to deal with speeding issues. Phillips thanked the Kentucky State Police and the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office for also helping with radar.

Due to the high numbers of accidents on Interstate 65, Phillips said his officers have been kept very busy.

The next meeting of the Lebanon Junction City Council will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, at the community center. The public is invited.