Elizabethtown City Council Meeting - February 2, 2026

The Elizabethtown City Council held its regular meeting on February 2, 2026, at 21:28 UTC (4:28 p.m. local time). The meeting began with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by approval of previous meeting minutes and action on several ordinances and municipal orders. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an extensive update from the Public Works Director regarding the city's response to a historic winter storm that struck on January 24, 2026. All votes were unanimous, and the meeting adjourned without public comment or closed session.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the January 20, 2025 (as stated in the meeting – likely a slip of the tongue for 2026) meeting were approved unanimously.
• Second Reading – Ordinance No. 3-2026: This ordinance amended the official zoning map for properties at 614–622 Pearl Orchard Road, changing the zoning from Suburban Residential (R-2) to Urban Residential (R-3) to allow single-unit homes or zero-lot-line duplexes. The change was found to be consistent with the city's comprehensive plan. The ordinance passed by roll call vote (4-0).
• Municipal Order No. 7-2026: Accepted a bid from C&C Portables LLC for annual portable restroom services for Parks and Recreation, at a cost not to exceed $85 per unit with an additional $25 charge for second cleaning. The alternate bid was not accepted. Passed unanimously.
• Municipal Order No. 8-2026: Authorized the purchase of property at 501 Commerce Drive from Matthew and Lords Ransdale for $25,000 as part of the Commerce Drive Corridor Improvement Project. The purchase includes acquisition of right-of-way and easements. Passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Snow Removal Update: Public Works Superintendent Don Hill presented a detailed chronological summary of the city's response to the winter storm that began January 24, 2026. Key points included:
  • Pre-planning meetings with multiple departments and administration.
  • Initial storm brought a mixture of snow, freezing rain, and sleet, resulting in approximately four inches of ice welded to pavement – described as a rare, once-in-15-to-20-year event.
  • Crews worked around the clock with strategic use of plowing, salt application, and steel-bladed equipment. Temperatures frequently dropped to single digits or zero, causing daily refreezing.
  • Operations progressed from treating arterial streets to neighborhood streets, focusing on intersections, hills, curves, and overpasses.
  • Statistics for the event (as of February 2):
    • Diesel fuel used: 1,752.6 gallons ($4,206.24)
    • Unleaded fuel used: 3,820.9 gallons ($7,068.66)
    • Total fuel cost: $11,274.91
    • Salt used: 383 tons at $122/ton = $46,726 (fifth application applied on Feb. 2; supplier has ordered replenishment)
    • Public Works labor: 1,682 regular hours + 862 overtime hours = 2,544 total hours (not including Natural Gas, Parks, or other support staff)
  • Crews removed rubber blade tips and switched to steel plows to break up thick ice, with caution to avoid manhole covers.
  • Widening of streets and clearing drainage ways in low-lying areas was underway in anticipation of warmer weather (high of 52°F expected next Sunday).
  • The mayor noted the department's pride and the unprecedented nature of the ice event, emphasizing that crews are working hard to restore normal conditions.

Key Outcomes

• All four legislative items (minutes approval, zoning ordinance, two municipal orders) were adopted unanimously.
• The city continues snow and ice removal operations; next focus includes removing large snow piles and repairing any potholes as ice clears.
• The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for February 9, 2026.
• No public comments were made, and no closed session was held. The meeting adjourned with a motion and second.