LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – The city of Lexington did not refuse state help clearing its roads, Mayor Linda Gorton said Friday in a press release.
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“I would never instruct any employee to refuse any kind of help from the state, especially help with clearing our roads,” Gorton said.
Gorton said she has spoken with the governor and believes it was a misunderstanding after talking with city employees involved in communicating with the state Department of Transportation. The city did receive help from the state last week and again this week.
Lexington is already moving ahead to hire the kind of contractor who can handle an ice storm during a stretch of extended cold, Gorton said.
“Clearly, under these conditions, we don’t have the tools we need to get the ice off the streets, so we’re going to hire the right kind of help,” Gorton said. “Ice is becoming a more frequent visitor during our winters. It is a formidable foe. We need to be better prepared to handle it.”
The city of Lexington did pre-treat its roads, beginning 72 hours before the snow event, according to Gorton.
“Pre-treating is a regular part of the way we operate. We did extensive pre-treating for this storm,” Gorton said.
“Even though we took several steps and invested in improving our response this year, including new equipment and hiring additional contractors, we were still not prepared to handle the thick coating of ice Lexington received, especially when it was coupled with extended cold,” she said.
The city is planning an internal, extensive, military-style after-action review of its response to the current storm.
“We want to take a look at what we did right and where we went wrong,” Gorton said. “I will be looking at the full time-line of our preparations for the storm and response to it, organizational structure, including communication and the need for a detailed map of which streets have received treatment; accountability; impact of the $3.5 million investment made last year after the 2025 storm; and more.”
Gorton invited residents, especially those who have lived in cities that experience a lot of ice storms, to contribute their ideas on ways the city can improve. Suggestions can be sent to [email protected].
Extended cold is challenging, Gorton said.
“Local meteorologists are saying that this period of below-freezing weather ranks 12th longest in Lexington’s meteorological history. Between January 22 and February 3, we had 278 hours at or below freezing,” she said.
In the past 14 days, Lexington has had one day above freezing.
Road clearing continues by state crews, construction contractors and city crews.
“We appreciate the state’s assistance. Work is progressing into the neighborhoods on school bus routes,” Gorton said.
Read the full press releases below:
The city of Lexington did not refuse state help clearing its roads, Mayor Linda Gorton said today.
“I would never instruct any employee to refuse any kind of help from the state, especially help with clearing our roads,” Gorton said. Gorton has spoken with the Governor, and said, after talking with city employees involved in communicating with the state Department of Transportation, she believes it was a misunderstanding. The city did receive help from the state last week, and again this week.
Additionally, the city of Lexington did pre-treat its roads, beginning 72 hours before the snow event. “Pre-treating is a regular part of the way we operate. We did extensive pre-treating for this storm,” Gorton said.
“Even though we took several steps and invested in improving our response this year, including new equipment and hiring additional contractors, we were still not prepared to handle the thick coating of ice Lexington received, especially when it was coupled with extended cold.”
Extended cold is challenging, Gorton said. “Local meteorologists are saying that this period of below-freezing weather ranks 12 longest in Lexington’s meteorological history. Between January 22 and February 3, we had 278 hours at or below freezing.” In the past 14 days, Lexington has had one day above freezing.
Today, road clearing continues by state crews, construction contractors, and city crews. “We appreciate the state’s assistance. Work is progressing into the neighborhoods on school bus routes,” Gorton said.
Second press release:
Lexington is already moving ahead to hire the kind of contractor who can handle an ice storm during a stretch of extended cold, Mayor Linda Gorton said today.
“Clearly, under these conditions, we don’t have the tools we need to get the ice off the streets, so we’re going to hire the right kind of help,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “Ice is becoming a more frequent visitor during our winters. It is a formidable foe. We need to be better prepared to handle it.”
Meanwhile, the city is planning an internal, extensive, military-style after-action review of its response to the current storm. “We want to take a look at what we did right and where we went wrong,” Gorton said. “I will be looking at the full time-line of our preparations for the storm and response to it, organizational structure, including communication and the need for a detailed map of which streets have received treatment; accountability; impact of the $3.5 million investment made last year after the 2025 storm; and more.”
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