Lexington, here are more ideas on how to improve our snow readiness, response | Opinion
A big thank you to Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and Superintendent Demetrus Liggins for vowing to do better on the city and school district’s weather reactions.
Like good politicians, they recognized, somewhat belatedly, that snow removal during our recent storm and subsequent freeze was not making the grade for students or really anyone.
Their resolutions include buying five new snow plows and salt spreaders for smaller trucks, more staff devoted to snow-removal detail and more private contractors for snow-covered streets. The city will also buy 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.
Also on the list: Better cooperation and communication between the city and the school district, which you might think was already in play, but apparently has not. Never too soon to start a relationship!
All these changes are a great start, particularly because we might be getting more snow on Sunday. But even more could be done!
Earlier this week, I made some of own suggestions, and asked readers for theirs. One reader said the Urban County Council should have a standing task force on snow removal that looks at what goes wrong and where we can do better. That could include school district employees to look at alternate routes when snow hits and stays.
Another reader thinks the city should mandate plowing every road in Fayette County when it snows more than four inches. He also thinks city and school officials should meet every October to go over new bus routes and other logistics.
Reader Deborah Gerth said the city needs a new, more muscular ordinance about shoveling sidewalks. I’ve been guilty of this neglect myself, and the fear of punishment might get more of us out there with our shovels.
“No longer can we think like a southern city where the snow will simply melt in a few days,” Gerth said in an email. “We need to do winter like the Midwest now, with better planning and more resources.”
It’s also clear that the school district needs a clearer policy on Chromebooks and non-traditional instruction. At first, officials said not enough students had taken computers home, then after a quick survey, it turned out more than 80 percent had taken them home. NTI is hit and miss, of course, but the other day, I listened to my son’s calculus teacher doing a video lesson, and it was very impressive. (I didn’t understand a word.) Our teachers are dedicated in every kind of weather.
This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 11:16 AM.
