Lexington mayor to the city: We’ll do a better job being prepared for future snowstorms

On the heels of soaring frustration from angry parents and residents on ice-choked streets in Lexington, Mayor Linda Gorton issued a promise Thursday night: We’ll do better next time.

“We know we need to make changes, and we’re making them now,” Gorton said in a joint news release with Fayette County Schools’ superintendent.

“While we believe this was an unusual storm, it has pushed us to learn how we can be better prepared.”

On that do-better, be-more-prepared list: Purchase five new plows and salt spreaders for smaller trucks that the city already owns but have been assigned to other city departments.

Other changes include throwing more staff on snow-removal detail and hiring more private contractors to clear snow-covered streets.

Also on the list: Improving cooperation with Fayette County schools.

Gorton and Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and the Fayette County Public Schools will work together to make improvements.

“We are jointly committed to improve communication and cooperation,” Gorton said.

Thursday’s release came as criticism from across the city began to mount. Herald-Leader stories captured the soaring frustration among parents who said their children need to return to school.

And residents in neighborhoods expressed anger in meetings and on social media about the city’s delayed response in clearing streets.

Fayette students had four traditional snow days and three at-home learning or non-traditional instruction days following a major snow and ice storm.

Students didn’t return from winter break until Thursday.

“We recognize that safe and passable roads are essential for our students and staff to attend school safely,” Liggins said in the release.

“This renewed collaboration between the city and Fayette County Public Schools is a critical step toward ensuring our community is better prepared for winter weather challenges.”

Beyond the snow plows and salt spreaders, the city will:

▪ Make use of trucks in parks that already have snow plows and salt spreaders attached, then assign Parks employees to help clear neighborhood streets.

▪ Seek private contractors through emergency contracts to help clear neighborhood streets.

▪ Seek council approval to purchase an additional three tanker trucks to increase the city’s ability to apply salt brine and beet heat, which are useful when snow and ice become packed down.

“All of these measures, except the tanker trucks, will be able to help us with issues we encounter through the remainder of this winter,” Gorton said.

The tanker trucks have to be ordered and will not be available until next fall.