Michigan City unveils winter emergency plan; council approves staffing changes and multiple budget ordinances

City officials on Tuesday presented an expanded winter emergency storm plan and the Michigan City Common Council approved a package of ordinances and staffing changes aimed at shoring up public works, planning and public safety operations.

Daryl Garbaczyk, superintendent of Central Maintenance, told the council the city has developed a four-level Severe Weather Emergency Team response, maps for eight primary snow routes and an operational communications chart. Garbaczyk said the plan is a "living document" and that the version shown to the council is not a public document in full because it contains personal contact information. He said the plan lists warming centers and identifies a street director as the snow removal coordinator.

"This is what we have come up with," Garbaczyk said, explaining the team and levels. "When we get to level 3, that's what we call all hands on deck. A blizzard is coming, an ice storm is coming, severe weather that's going to nail us is coming." He added that level 4 focuses on post-storm cleanup such as removing snow from intersections.

Council members asked questions and offered support for the plan. Sean Smith, the street director…