Paris, Tenn.–All Paris City government facilities will remain closed Tuesday, February 16, due to extreme weather conditions. The business office, animal shelter, landfill and Civic Center will remain closed.
Sanitation routes WILL NOT run tomorrow and weather permitting, sanitation will resume with Wednesday’s regular route.
City Manager Kim Foster said, “We will keep you informed of any schedule changes as we assess the situation. These measures are taken for the safety of our city employees as well as to discourage travel on the streets.”
Chief of Police Ricky Watson said most people seem to be staying off the roads today which is much appreciated by law enforcement.
Foster told RadioNWTN that the city’s public works crews have been working all night and through the day today. She said they worked with only one short break this morning.
“As of right now they will be making one last round on the main streets. They have been working with one rest break since that time,” she said. “When they complete this last round they will quit for the day and begin work on the streets again in the morning.”
Henry County EMA Director Ron Watkins estimated some 3-4 inches of snow has fallen in most the county, with more falling in the Paris Landing/Buchanan area. “We’ll be getting more snow this evening,” he said, “but that may turn out to be more of a dusting.”
He said the first inch of precipitation last night was sleet, with snow falling on top of that. The ice mixed in with snow has made conditions more hazardous, he said.
Foster said, “Though the weather has turned to mostly snow there is a lot of ice mixed in and underneath the accumulations of snow making the streets very treacherous. We are doing our best to clear the streets but there is only so much that can be done with the temps remaining below freezing.”
Photo: A snowy Tyson Avenue in Paris was almost deserted Monday afternoon. (City of Paris photo).