Madison County reviews winter storm response after road clearing issues
JACKSON, Tenn. — Madison County officials are reviewing their winter storm response after roadways across the area remained impassable for days following a recent winter weather event.
Mayor A.J. Massey said the county, City of Jackson and Tennessee Department of Transportation had established responsibilities for storm response, but TDOT changed its approach without notifying local officials.
“TDOT made changes to the responsibilities that didn’t include state routes in the county, but focused on I-40,” Massey said. “TDOT has pretreated state routes in the county in the past and this time they did not.”
Communication breakdown led to untreated roads
Massey said he assumed TDOT would operate as it had previously and pretreat county state routes.
“I think we probably should have reached out and confirmed that. The assumption was that was how it was going to operate then,” he said.
The winter storm left many residents unable to leave their homes, get to work or conduct business. Schools and businesses closed due to the conditions.
Madison County currently operates four truck-mounted snowplows and used a road grader during the storm response.
County considers purchasing brine from TDOT
Massey said the county has discussed purchasing brine from TDOT rather than investing in additional equipment.
“That may make sense going forward, that we buy the equipment to distribute the brine throughout our county roads without the cost, expense, and maintenance of having to keep that brine mixed and available. We can just buy it from TDOT when we need it,” he said.
The mayor said he does not believe purchasing additional snowplows or road equipment is necessary.
“Probably not. I think we can probably use what we have,” Massey said.
County employees received pay when their departments closed due to weather, consistent with usual practice.
Officials plan coordination improvements
Massey said the county learned from the situation and will change its approach for future storms.
“What I would say I could do differently was just the assumption. We’re going to make sure and ask to confirm this is your plan. This is what you’re going to try to do throughout the county,” he said.
The city of Jackson, Madison County and TDOT held a meeting last Thursday to discuss improvements. None of the agencies have revealed proposed changes from the meeting.
The county will explore options at future budget and highway committee meetings.
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