On Friday, Jan. 25th, government offices within the City of Knoxville will open at 10 a.m. to accommodate employees who need extra time to travel to work. An overnight ice storm is expected to create hazardous travel conditions, and COK employees are encouraged to use caution. Employees who cannot report to work are asked to use appropriate leave. Updates to come as conditions change.

The public should call COK offices before coming to the City County Building for business.

To report hazardous conditions on City streets, the public is asked to call 311.

Public Service crews are scheduled overnight at the City's operations center on Loraine Street to top off salt trucks. At 4:30 a.m., crews will deploy to staging areas throughout the City to await the storm.

The Public Service Department has up to 180 employees and 21 pieces of equipment available to clear streets and support emergency services. Crews use salt, calcium chloride and truck-mounted snow plows to clear streets during a weather event. Sand and other aggregates are also used for some specific applications like the Gay Street Bridge and downtown sidewalks.

To see the department's snow plan, go here: http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_offices/public_service/ice_and_snow_removal