Monroe County ratifies emergency request after storm; residents press county over private-road plowing

Monroe County commissioners ratified an emergency order on Jan. 29 to seek state and federal disaster assistance after a winter storm that county highway staff estimated cost just under $300,000 in materials, equipment and labor.

"This is our step to get in line for that process," County Council member David Henry said during public comment, urging the ratification as the first step toward reimbursement from state or federal programs.

Highway Director Lisa Ridge told officials the county saw average snowfall of 12 to 16 inches across the county and rotated roughly 45 employees through continuous operations for about 48 hours. "We sent them home on Monday around 5PM after 48 hours," Ridge said.

Residents who live on private lanes pressed county officials for help. Skip Daly and others argued that in emergencies residents should not be left to hand-shovel deep snow, citing problems on Geranium Lane. Ridge and county staff said motor-vehicle-highway funds used for snow removal are tied to county-maintained road mileage, and that private roads do not generate that funding. "We are very restricted on what our funds can be used for, but most importantly, it must be on county maintained roads," Ridge said.

Jeff Cockrell said there are 41 private lanes in Monroe County that county highway vehicles cannot plow; he said the department will provide residents with a list of private snow-removal contractors on request. Commissioner Julie Thomas suggested prohibiting private lanes in future subdivisions to prevent repeat problems.

County Council member Trent Deckard urged a broader review of emergency-management authorities and said emergency management already responds to flooding on private lanes, which the county could consider extending to snow events.