Committee named to review area’s ice storm response

The committee will hold its first meeting in April and will be responsible for looking over the after-action reports being prepared by the city’s Office of Emergency Management, City Utilities, City of Springfield Public Works and Springfield Public Schools. The committee then will hold public input sessions, tentatively set for May.

By late spring, the committee will be asked to submit a report with recommendations to Springfield City Council, the Greene County Commission, City Utilities Board and the Springfield R-XII School Board.

The committee is co-chaired by Missouri State University Director of Community and Social Issues Bernard McCarthy and Battlefield Mayor Judy Stainback. Other members, who represent the major areas of emergency response and recovery, are: Tom DenOuden, law enforcement; Abbe Ehlers, neighborhoods/Tree City USA; Dan Fortner, north Springfield; Chris Harmon, director of emergency services for Greater Ozarks Chapter of American Red Cross; Dr. David Hockensmith, Council of Churches; Skip Jansen, power/utilities; Gaylord Moore, arborist; Dr. David Muegge, a physician at MSU’s Taylor Health and Wellness Center; Thelma Neff, retiree; Ron Ponds, power/utilities; Barbara Ray, nursing homes; Randy Russell, Springfield Public Schools; and Bill Smillie, owner of Smillie’s IGA.