Monday afternoon’s meeting of the Mt. Carmel City Council marked the first gathering since the massive winter storm that hit the area over the weekend of January 24th.
Mayor Joe Judge opened the meeting by thanking the city’s public works crews for their long hours and dedication as they worked through what he called one of the most challenging snow events the city has faced in years. Judge said crews made steady progress clearing roads and emphasized how much it helped when residents kept vehicles off the streets during the storm.
Judge also thanked city staff who braved the cold and snow to keep City Hall open, noting that trash pickup delays are an unfortunate reality after a storm of that magnitude. He told residents that collection will resume as soon as conditions allow.
Streets Commissioner Tyson Meador echoed the mayor’s comments, saying crews prepared for, plowed, and salted throughout the storm. Meador also expressed appreciation to Public Utility crews who provided equipment and trucks to help haul snow, calling their assistance a big help.
Fire Commissioner Susan Zimmerman reported that the Mt. Carmel Fire Department has been extremely busy since the storm. She said firefighters responded to 32 calls over the past week, primarily assisting ambulance crews through auto-aid responses.
City Engineer Dave Dallas, who has worked with the city for decades, said the recent storm rivals some of the biggest snowfalls he remembers from the late 1970s. Dallas praised city crews for what he described as a remarkable job handling the historic snowfall.
Mayor Judge closed the discussion by again commending city employees and residents for working together to get Mt. Carmel back to normal.