LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mayor Linda Gorton announced major staffing changes and a complete overhaul of the city's snow removal strategy Wednesday, citing frustration with Lexington's repeated struggles to clear streets during winter storms. According to CivicLex, the changes follow public criticism of the city's response to a March 17 winter storm that caused more than 150 accidents and significant traffic delays.

Gorton accepted the resignation of Nancy Albright, Commissioner of Environmental Quality and Public Works, effective March 31. Charles Martin, the city's Director of Water Quality, will serve as acting commissioner, a position Martin has filled multiple times previously. Additionally, the Division of Streets and Roads, which handles street clearing after winter storms, will now report directly to Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Glenn Brown.

During a Wednesday press conference, Gorton said she is "tearing up" the city's existing snow plan entirely. "Our approach is currently not working. We need to start over," she said. "It is not lost on me that anything our 3,000-plus employees do is ultimately my responsibility."

The leadership shuffle comes as the city faces a pattern of inadequate winter weather response. In January, Winter Storm Fern dumped several inches of snow and ice onto Central Kentucky, leaving Fayette County Public Schools closed for nearly two weeks and leaving many neighborhood streets impassable. Ice accumulations prevented the snow from melting, and rock salt proved ineffective 47% of the time due to temperatures remaining below 15 degrees, the threshold required for salt to work.

During a Tuesday council work session, city officials acknowledged delays in responding to the March 17 storm. Former Environmental Quality Commissioner Nancy Albright said overnight crews monitored conditions and pre-treated known slick spots, but there were delays mobilizing crews until after 5 a.m. "By then, things had gotten out of our reach, a little bit," Albright said. Rob Larkin, the city's Director of Emergency Management, explained that National Weather Service forecasts had predicted only a dusting to a half-inch of snow, but a sudden snow squall arrived around 4:30 a.m., leaving a coating that quickly worsened road conditions.

Council members expressed frustration with the continued problems. "At the end of the day, municipal government is about providing competent city services," said 4th District Councilmember Emma Curtis. "When we are moving forward, we cannot continue to allow ourselves to be caught off-guard by this. This is a public safety issue."

Gorton said a nearly completed "military-style after-action review" of Winter Storm Fern will guide the development of a new snow plan. The city has also issued a request for proposals to contract with heavy equipment companies for emergency ice-breaking services, with contracts expected to be awarded soon. Last month, city leaders announced they will ask the Urban County Council to approve agreements with eight contractors to help scale up equipment and personnel during storms.

Gorton indicated the improvements will require significant additional funding, continuing a pattern of increased winter weather spending. The city previously invested $3.5 million in equipment and increased snow removal budgets following Winter Storm Blair in early 2025.