If you disagree with what snow emergency levels in Athens County are called, posting on Sheriff Pat Kelly’s Facebook page probably won’t change anything, Kelly said.
“Many people post on Facebook, telling me whether I should call a level or not. When I call a level, it’s based on the totality of the county,” he said. “Everyone wants a Level 3 because they don’t have to go to work or school. But first and foremost, I care about the safety of the citizens of this county.”
Kelly said while some comments might be based on personal interest more so than public safety, he does welcome the large number of people who interact with him on his two Facebook accounts — but he wants them to know that he has the power to declare snow emergencies.
“There are many considerations I make when determining the proper time to call an emergency level and when to take the level off,” Kelly posted on his Facebook page earlier this month in response to residents who questioned snow emergency levels that he declared.
Although he says he doesn’t make snow emergency decisions based on what people tell him online, Kelly uses the information to decide what roads his deputies patrol, which may result in a different level.
But not all of the sheriff’s followers disagree with the levels he calls. Some thank him for defining the levels or ask questions about driving conditions.
One of those people is Melinda Thompson, of Athens.
Thompson, who said she has lived in Athens County since 1986, said she believes Kelly acts in the interest of the entire county.
“The sheriff has been more than fair and responsible with his assessment of the road conditions,” Thompson said via Facebook message to The Post. “Of course, not all parts of the county get the same conditions, but he does the best he can with an overall view of the area.”
Austin Dresbach, who commutes to campus from Columbus two days a week also agrees with the levels that Kelly issues, especially with the weather conditions in the past week.
“I’d say (the levels) have been spot on lately,” said Dresbach, a senior studying communications. “I don’t think they should have been any different.”
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