Story updated at 4 p.m. - with Governor Beshear's remarks and response from Mayor's office.
Central Kentucky just came through another tough winter-weather mix — snow on top of ice, and then days of bitter cold that left even treated roads slick, bumpy, and rutted.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton has said the city’s current winter plan hasn’t kept up with what these storms are becoming.
Tom Martin spoke with the mayor about what happened on the city’s streets and roads, what the city has learned, and what it would take to reach the level of snow-and-ice removal found in colder, comparable-sized cities.
During a Team Kentucky press update Wednesday, Governor Beshear expressed disappointment with the city's response to the storm.
“This is the second one in a row that we should have seen better results. I think the mayor has said that, and has taken responsibility,” he said. “We helped, and have helped, and were then told for a period of time that our help wasn't needed. We have asked, and it has been accepted to help some more.”
The governor said state vehicles will be in Lexington to help clear the roadways. He said the state will also provide any guidance that is requested and offer help to improve the city's snow and ice removal plan.
In response, Susan Straub, Director of Communications for Mayor Gorton’s Office said
the Mayor appreciates the support being offered by the state.
“We have state trucks, construction equipment, and city trucks on our streets clearing the roads. We pre-treated the roads before the storm began. We will conduct an after- action review to find out what went right, what went wrong, and to put together a new plan going forward,” said Straub.
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