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Rockville city manager praises staff response after winter storm and school shooting reunification
Summary
City Manager Mihalik highlighted Black History Month and Lunar New Year events, then commended staff and multiple law enforcement agencies for coordinated responses to a recent winter storm and an active‑shooter incident at a nearby school, saying staff training and scenario exercises prepared crews to protect residents and families.
City Manager Mihalik opened the Feb. 23 Mayor and Council meeting by highlighting recent community events and by praising city staff for their emergency responses over the previous month.
Mihalik noted successful community celebrations for Black History Month and the Lunar New Year, then turned to more difficult incidents: “We had a pretty interesting unique winter storm,” he said, and the city also experienced an increase in stressful police dispatch calls and “an active shooter event.” He added, “I do wanna give some praise to, mayor and council. You guys provide us with the resources to provide training. And that training really does matter.”
Mihalik said the city conducts tabletop exercises and scenario‑based trainings that helped staff respond effectively: “we do scenario based training, and we really have plans in place… so the men and women of our staff can go into those scenes and respond really well and… provide a much safer environment for our residents.”
Mayor Ash and council members thanked staff and first responders. Councilman Van Grack specifically thanked the Rockville Police Department, Montgomery County Police and the sheriff’s office for on‑site reunification efforts after the school incident and said coordination improved organization and reunification logistics for families.
The mayor asked the city to keep monitoring related budget impacts, including electricity costs, and acknowledged ongoing community stress following the events. No formal action was taken; the remarks were part of the manager’s regular report to the council.
