HomeMy Public PortalAbout2016_tcmin0125EMERG Council Emergency Meeting January 25, 2016
Webex Conference Call, 6:03 p.m., Vice Mayor Kelly Burk presiding.
Council Members Present: David Butler, Thomas Dunn, II, Suzanne Fox, Katie
Sheldon Hammier, Marty Martinez and Vice Mayor Kelly Burk
Staff Present: Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Deputy Town Manager Keith Markel,
Public Information Officer Betsy Fields, Director of Capital Projects and Public
Works Renee Lafollette, Chief of Police Joseph Price, Director of Finance and
Administrative Services Clark Case, and Clerk of Council Lee Ann Green
This electronic meeting was held pursuant to the requirements of Section 2.2-3708(G)
of the Code of Virginia due to the effects of Winter Storm Jonas. The meeting was
held using Webex Conference Call.
ROLL CALL: Showing all members present on the conference call from their
residences. David Butler, Thomas Dunn, II, Suzanne Fox, Katie Sheldon Hammier,
Marty Martinez and Vice Mayor Kelly Burk.
Town Manager Kaj Dentler stated that this is a storm of historic proportions with
some parts of town receiving as much as 36 inches. He also stated that the town is
working closely with Loudoun County.
Key Points:
• Challenge is resources.
• Town's current equipment and staffing is geared towards an event of 10-12
inches.
• Entire region is dealing with the same thing.
• Public news conference with the county tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. —
Phyllis Randall, Chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will lead
the conference. The conference will be televised on the County's broadcast
channel and webcast on their website.
Director of Capital Projects and Public Works, Renee Lafollette updated everyone on
the status of storm clean up.
Key Points:
• Since Friday morning we have been working two 12 hour shifts.
• All town resources plus seven contractors.
• At 7 p.m. this evening: 35% of the NE quadrant will have one lane passible,
60% in the SE, 60% in the SW, and nearly complete in the NW
• SW will have all streets passable by end of shift on Thursday, SE by end of
shift on Wednesday, and NE by Friday.
• In contact with General Services at the County regarding resources
• Driveways and pipestems will only be cleared for verified medical reasons.
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Council Emergency Meeting January 25, 2016
• Working closely with the Police Department and Fire and Rescue on 911 calls
to get ambulances or fire equipment into neighborhoods.
• Resources will remain in all quadrants until all streets are passible.
• At night crews will work on primary road safety concerns.
Vice Mayor Burk verified that she would be able to speak at the press conference in
the morning. There were no objections to that.
Council Member Dunn questioned why the variation in completed plowing
percentages in the different quadrants. Renee Lafollette confirmed that the
differences in completion rates were a combination of terrain, intersection sizes, and
how many people have tried to get out. The NE quadrant is the largest and also has
the largest number of cul-de-sacs.
Council Member Fox questioned whether the County was asked for help earlier. Mr.
Dentler stated that the county does not have any resources of their own with the
exception of Parks and Recreation and General Services. The county depends on the
Virginia Department of Transportation for snow removal. He also stated that the
town and county have been working together now and before the storm. The county
is bringing in help from out of state and the town is in close coordination with them.
Several Leesburg residents expressed concern with not having their quadrants
passable before Friday. There was concern over emergency rescue situations. It was
clarified that snow plows would precede rescue equipment into neighborhoods that
had not been plowed, although no response time could be given because it would be
dependent on rescue equipment availability. Chief Price verified that all police
cruisers are equipped with AEDs.
Council Member Butler questioned why so few contractors have been employed. Ms.
Lafollette noted that as many contractors were secured as possible. She added that
sometimes they do not show up when they say they will. Mr. Dentler noted that the
entire region is in competition for contractors with snow removal equipment.
Council Member Butler stated that the town needs to do better than that.
Mr. Dentler stated that staff will be asking for additional resources, both in equipment
and staff, in the next budget cycle.
A comparison was made to Purcellville's snow removal efforts. It was noted that
Purcellville is just over three square miles and still do not have all lanes passable, even
with VDOT support.
Council Member Hammier stated an effort should be made to organize volunteers to
shovel out elderly neighbors. She questioned whether anything can be done to put the
call out for resources.
Mr. Dentler stated that this is a physical challenge with the volume of snow and that
the town is taking advantage of everyone who has volunteered to help.
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Council Emergency Meeting January 25, 2016
Council Member Fox questioned why Purcellville has VDOT support. Ms.
Lafollette noted that the town maintains its own streets. She stated that the county
has come to the town asking for assistance as well since they don't have their own
snow removal equipment.
Council Member Dunn stated that that Boston has offered assistance and questioned
why the town has not asked for assistance from localities outside the storm. Mr.
Dentler stated that the county has done that.
A resident questioned whether there is a plan to bring the need for more equipment to
the voters since it is not acceptable to have people stranded for a week. Mr. Dentler
stated that the county is working to bring additional resources from outside the area.
Former Leesburg Supervisor Ken Reid questioned how the subdivision streets are
prioritized for snow removal. Ms. Lafollette stated that the crew that is assigned to a
specific quadrant moves through the quadrant methodically and does not pick certain
streets for plowing. She verified that they will be working 24/7 until all the snow is
cleared.
A downtown business owner questioned what the plan was for removal of the snow
downtown. Ms. Lafollette stated that they will be bringing in a blower tomorrow to
start clearing the big piles of snow.
Council Member Dunn stated that the town should start thinking about where it will
put the snow that it hauls out. Ms. Lafollette states that they have already lined up
haul out trucks and equipment and have dump locations identified. They will get the
residential streets passable before hauling begins.
Mr. Reid questioned whether the state police can help. Chief Price stated that the
state police do not have that type of equipment. Town crews have been called in to
pull out state police cars that do not have four-wheel drive.
Mr. Reid questioned whether the town can buy snow blowers from Home Depot and
utilize town staff to man them. Chief Price noted that Home Depot was sold out of
snow blowers as of Friday.
Vice Mayor Burk thanked the public for participating and sharing their concerns. She
expressed her gratitude to town staff for trying to solve this issue. She stated everyone
needs to work together and help each other.
Kara Rodriguez questioned whether the Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday night
will be held since meetings are normally cancelled if town offices are closed. There
was consensus of Council to cancel the meeting since the public would not be able to
attend.
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Council Emergency Meeting January 25, 2016
Mr. Dentler noted that Ida Lee Recreation Center would be open at 5 a.m. tomorrow
morning.
Council Member Martinez stated he is encouraged that all six Council Members were
able to meet on such short notice and stated it is important to let the public know that
the town is doing everything it can.
Mr. Dentler thanked everyone and closed by saying that the town is focused on
providing the best services with the resources at hand and that any situations would
be addressed as well as possible. He welcomed any questions and encouraged
everyone to attend the press conference in the morning.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
Cji ceityg,
David S. Butler, Mayor
Town of Leesburg
E,
Clerk of Cou cil,
2016 tcsnow0125
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