KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two days after Knoxville saw 10 inches of snowfall, while the highway department continues to clear roads and schools remain closed, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon is in Washington, D.C. attending a conference, Knoxville Communications Director Kristin Farley said in an email to 10News.
Kincannon is at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., an official trip, Farley said. The Mayor left Wednesday morning and plans to return Saturday.
"She arrived in DC early Wednesday morning—-after being assured that first responders, Public Service crews and other emergency workers had the supplies and resources to carry out the critical work of the City," Farley said in the email.
Farley said Kincannon has remained in constant contact with directors in Knoxville. Forecasters expect a wintry mix, freezing rain and light snow Thursday night into Friday. Kincannon would've canceled the trip if "she was not assured conditions in Knoxville were in hand," Farley said.
"This conference is important to Knoxville in many ways. For example, tomorrow the Mayor is taking part in a roundtable discussion with Secretary Pete Buttigieg where they will be discussing the $8 million Federal Safe Streets Grant that Knoxville was recently awarded," Farley said in a follow-up email.
Earlier this week, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs was criticized for a political trip to Iowa during the winter storm. Jacobs left on Saturday and returned Tuesday. Snow fell in Knox County Sunday night through Monday.
Farley said many of the Mayors at the conference are dealing with the same winter storm.