Louisville Public Works Committee Reviews Snow Plan Readiness and Appoints Complete Streets Coalition Member on October 6, 2026

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the Louisville Metro Public Works Committee convened at 4:04 p.m. in Council Chambers and via video teleconference, with Chair Jeff Hudson presiding. All eight committee members were present, establishing a quorum; Josie Raymond and Stuart Benson attended virtually. The committee received a winter snow-plan readiness briefing from Public Works, recommended Nancyanne Lerner for appointment to the Complete Streets Coalition, and acknowledged withdrawal of a TARC bus stop funding resolution. The meeting adjourned at 4:44 p.m.

Special Discussion: Snow Plan Readiness (ID 26-1485)

• Wes Sydnor, Executive Director of Public Works, joined by Bill Bell, Director of Transportation, presented the department's snow plan readiness. They reviewed the 2025-26 season, which included 15 winter weather events: 11 salt-and-plow events and 4 brine-only events.
• Public Works maintains more than 2,700 miles of roadway and over 100 snow routes. The full snow team includes about 200 employees across multiple Metro departments, with roughly 100 members per 12-hour shift.
• The department reported improvements in cross-department coordination, including daily or twice-daily operational calls, expanded pre-treatment brining, and contractor support on major events. During the Fern event, staff developed secondary routing to connect schools, medical facilities, and job/economic centers to primary snow routes.
• Equipment and materials: the fleet includes over 100 pieces of snow-fighting equipment, including 96 salt trucks, 25 brine-capable trucks, a new 3,000-gallon brine water truck, and a new automated brine maker at the East District with a containment system near the Middle Fork of Beargrass Creek. Internal GPS is installed, but it is not public-facing and does not provide turn-by-turn directions.
• Salt supply: departments filled storage with approximately 32,000 tons after purchasing at $98 per ton before the market quote rose to $141 per ton, saving roughly $43 per ton.
• Budget constraints: KYTC maintenance funding is down 4% in the current fiscal year and will be down a further 3% next fiscal year relative to FY26. Public Works has swapped some routes with other departments, such as Parks and Vacant Lots, to improve efficiency.
• The presentation noted that neighborhood streets generally are not on snow routes because of equipment and logistical limitations, training, and funding constraints.
• Staff described echelon plowing tested on Preston Highway, October training and ride-alongs, a planned winter-readiness press conference in early November, and efforts to grow the subscriber list for snow-event updates.
• Public Works is exploring paid cross-department volunteer assignments for non-CDL vehicles and support roles during major events; volunteers would be paid, not serve as unpaid workers.
• Councilmember responses and questions:
  • Chair Hudson thanked the snow team and said each year has improved.
  • Councilmember Bratcher praised the team's communication and responsiveness and asked about brine composition and containment. Staff said brine is about 23.7% salt with additives such as beet juice or molasses to lower the freezing temperature.
  • Vice Chair Herndon thanked staff for the salt purchase and asked for stronger outreach to commercial property owners about snow and ice clearance responsibilities, noting enforcement has been inconsistent and conditions can be dangerous.
  • Councilmember Reno-Weber asked about the estimated $250,000 turn-by-turn technology investment and suggested consulting the city's AI director to prototype it; staff agreed to follow up.
  • Councilmember Chappell asked about the $1 million additional diesel budget, possible cost-per-mile calculations, plowing versus salting coverage, and sidewalk clearance enforcement. Staff said a portion of diesel costs may be reimbursed by KYTC, cost data were compiled for the Fern event for possible FEMA reimbursement, and sidewalk enforcement will be reviewed, including possible partnerships with community groups such as Goodwill or scouting organizations.
  • Councilmember Raymond asked about JCPS bus route coordination, noting JCPS had about 17,000 stops last year and routes did not always align with snow routes. Staff described engagement with JCPS and school bus drivers and agreed to explore a map overlay.

Pending Legislation

• AP100626NL — Appointment of Nancyanne Lerner to the Complete Streets Coalition, with a term expiring three years from Council approval. Wes Sydnor said this was a new board appointment. Councilmember Bast moved to recommend approval, seconded by Councilmember Reno-Weber. The motion carried by voice vote, and the appointment was sent to the Consent Calendar.
• R-131-26 — A resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept up to $2,000,000 from the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) for the Bus Stop Improvements and Pedestrian Access Upgrades project, administered by Public Works and Assets, was withdrawn after Chair Hudson withdrew his sponsorship, so the committee did not act on it.

Key Outcomes

• The Committee recommended approval of Nancyanne Lerner's appointment to the Complete Streets Coalition by voice vote; it will go to the full Metro Council on October 15, 2026, as part of the Consent Calendar.
• R-131-26 was withdrawn and not acted upon.
• The snow plan readiness briefing was received as informational. Next steps include finalizing route and map updates, conducting training and public outreach, exploring turn-by-turn technology and AI support, reviewing sidewalk enforcement options, and continuing JCPS/route alignment work.