Mayor ends state of emergency, Lexington city offices to reopen Wednesday morning
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Mayor Linda Gorton has officially ended Lexington’s state of emergency following last weekend’s winter storm and announced that most city offices will reopen at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28.
“Although the bitter cold continues, our road crews have made progress,” Gorton said. “A delayed start Wednesday is a safer choice for our employees, and for anyone who has business with the government.”
The state of emergency will lift at 8 a.m. Wednesday, which also means free parking in downtown city garages will come to an end.
While conditions are improving, Gorton said the city will continue delaying enforcement of Lexington’s sidewalk shoveling ordinance.
“While clear sidewalks are important, currently, the ice makes it dangerous for many residents to clear their sidewalks,” Gorton said. “The ordinance allows the Mayor to delay enforcement until weather conditions improve.”
City road crews are still working through icy conditions, but sunshine over the past 24 hours has helped.
“The main roads are in good shape,” Gorton said. “Today crews are moving to major collector streets in neighborhoods. We are also beginning to address ADA ramps, busier intersections, and school routes.”
Waste management service will remain suspended Wednesday as well.
“Just like it’s dangerous for people to shovel sidewalks in this cold, it’s dangerous for many residents to move their waste carts to the curb, and for employees to drive big trucks through neighborhoods in this weather,” Gorton said.
City officials say additional updates on services and recovery efforts will continue to be shared as conditions improve.
In addition, Fayette County Clerk Susan Lamb says the county clerk’s office will operate on a two-hour delay Wednesday, closing at 3:30 p.m. Lamb says the early closure is for the safety of customers and staff to be able to travel home during daylight hours. She also says transactions will be processed for anyone still in line at 3:30, when doors will close.
