By Roy York

Students who found themselves slipping and sliding to class during the ice storm last year out of dark, powerless houses may find themselves facing the same situation if a major ice storm strikes Lexington this winter.

Christy Giles, the UK Office of Emergency Management Director, said UK’s policy is to keep the university open and all classes on schedule unless there are severe safety concerns for students and faculty.

Giles said when severe winter weather happens, her office receives information from the National Weather Service, UK Police and UK Physical Plant Decision to determine road conditions and evaluate student safety concerns. The decision to close the university rests with Frank Butler, executive vice president of the Office of Finance and Administration, but UK officials say there is little change in procedure following the ice storm last January.

“There are no changes to the general policy and plan,” UK spokesman Jimmy Stanton said.

Ken Wiley, the UK Physical Plant and grounds manager, said the only change this year is adding sidewalks to the snow removal plan. He said his department is in charge of removing snow and ice from steps, sidewalks, roads and parking lots around buildings on campus.

“Our number one priority, above all is the hospital,” Wiley said. “I try to be ready by about 7:30 a.m. on school and workdays and try to have the campus safe by then.”

UK’s snow removal plan only extends to the edges of university property, and Wiley said students and faculty who live off campus must rely on the city to plow snow and make roads safe.

UK officials have canceled classes before 10 a.m. due to snowy conditions once in the winter intersession, and the ice storm that caused multiple delays and cancellations is still fresh in some students’ minds. But university officials say UK is ready for this winter.

“While there is always room for and we constantly strive for ways to improve, the university has a comprehensive plan to deal with these types of situations, and we believe we’ve been successful at minimizing the risk to the campus community in these instances,” Stanton said.

Wiley said the university budgets for seven major storms per year and is confident in UK’s ability to handle winter weather and make campus safe for students.

“We’re operating like a little city and taking care of our business,” Wiley said.