Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lower Pottsgrove reviews winter storm response; police report, public works and emergency management give updates
Summary
Officials reviewed the Jan. 24–26 winter storm response: the EOC was activated, a winter-storm emergency was declared, public works used 220 tons of salt and plowed multiple dates, police reported 1,342 calls for service and a patrol vehicle was rear-ended on Jan. 17, and fire and emergency teams were thanked for staffing and response.
Township officials reviewed public-safety and operational responses to recent winter weather and ongoing service matters at the Feb. 2 meeting.
Emergency Management reported activation of the Emergency Operations Center WatchDesk for the Jan. 24 storm and a Declaration of Winter Storm Emergency that remained in effect through noon Jan. 26. Mr. Lopez said county coordination and preparatory trainings took place in the weeks leading up to the event and that indoor technical work for the Ringing Hill radio tower continues after weather delayed site work.
Police Chief Richard Bell said the County Records Management System was experiencing an outage, delaying the full monthly report, but he provided available statistics: 1,342 calls for service, 97 traffic citations, 15 adults arrested and 4 juveniles handled. He also reported a Jan. 17 incident in which a patrol car was rear-ended while investigating an accident; the officer is off duty as a precaution and vehicle repair is pending the insurance company’s determination.
Manager Wagner relayed the Public Works activity report prepared by Shane Hosier: the department received 220 tons of salt, performed pothole patching and storm-drain cleaning, trimmed trees for plowing preparedness, salted and plowed on Jan. 1, 17, 18 and 25, hauled snow from developments and cleared downed trees in open space off Wooded Way.
Fire Marshal Joseph Groff delivered the 2025 year-end report and noted volunteer staffing levels; Commissioner Robert Mohollen raised apparent discrepancies in Station 59’s reported training and fundraising hours, and Groff said he would ask Ringing Hill to correct the figures. Commissioners thanked the fire companies, police sergeants and public works crews for their work during the storm and for keeping roads safe.
Officials also discussed ongoing work to improve radio communications; Mr. Lopez said the plan includes three talk-around channels and two repeater channels to improve interoperability in emergencies.
What happens next: the Township will publish the full police report once county systems are restored, Groff will seek corrected station reporting, and the radio upgrade work continues with vendor coordination.
