King Appoints Members To Merger 2.0 Task Force

Four members have been appointed to the panel that will recommend changes to Louisville's merged government.When he created the so-called Merger 2.0 panel, Mayor Greg Fischer said he would ask Metro Council President Jim King to appoint four council members: two from the old city and two from the old county. Further, Fischer asked for at least one Republican to be appointed.Council President Jim King did just that yesterday (Tuesday), appointing Dan Johnson and Cheri Bryant Hamilton from the old city, and James Peden and Rick Blackwell from the suburbs. Peden is the only Republican.One of the task force's main jobs will be to decide whether urban services such as garbage collection should be extended to the suburbs. Residents of the old city currently pay higher taxes for the government-provided service. All others pay small cities or private contractors. The split has long been a contentious point in merged government.The panel will have several more members from various organizations and parts of government. The task force has until October to present its findings to Fischer.