MARION, VA. Less than a month into his tenure, Marion’s new Town Manager Andrew Keen is already proving to be a steady hand in a turbulent winter. As Snowstorm Fern and its icy aftermath continue to challenge road conditions across the region, Keen has moved quickly to coordinate resources, correct misinformation, and keep the town’s response running around the clock.
Keen, who officially began his role on January 5, stepped directly into one of the most disruptive winter events Marion has seen in years. Despite the timing, he has navigated the situation with clarity, transparency, and a focus on results.
“I appreciate you asking for the facts as it can be frustrating when things are spread online that simply aren’t true; that being said, that’s the nature of social media,” Keen said in an email Friday evening, addressing rumors circulating about the town’s salt supply.
Online speculation suggested the town had unexpectedly run out of road salt mid storm. Keen clarified that while the town did deplete its existing reserves on Tuesday, this was part of a planned usage strategy, not a failure of preparation.
“While the Town did deplete its salt reserves on Tuesday, we did so knowing that we had another large order inbound which arrived very early Friday morning prior to the first flakes of yesterday’s snowfall,” he explained.
The broader supply chain was strained statewide, with a major Maryland supplier unable to meet demand. Keen acted quickly, leveraging professional relationships to secure 120 tons of salt from Roanoke City—and at a cost below Marion’s usual rate.
That purchase, combined with the town’s gravel sand salt mixture, produced roughly 360 tons of spreadable material, ensuring crews could continue treating roads through the storm’s duration.
Snowstorm Fern brought a difficult combination of heavy snow, rapid icing, and bitter temperatures.
“Last weekend’s storm was unique in that it was snowfall covered quickly by a few inches of ice,” Keen said. “When ice molds to the asphalt, it cannot be removed by scraping. Bitterly cold temperatures created an environment where ice would not melt and invalidated the effectiveness of salt.”
The deep freeze also triggered an uptick in water line breaks, forcing public works crews to juggle emergency repairs alongside road treatment. Keen coordinated both efforts, ensuring neither was neglected.
Despite the challenges, Keen reported that Marion’s secondary and neighborhood roads were “no worse than our neighboring localities that received similar amounts of ice,” a conclusion he reached after reviewing photos and speaking with colleagues across the region.
Under Keen’s leadership, Marion’s response has remained aggressive and continuous. As of Saturday evening, the town has:
• Five plow trucks actively treating roads
• A steady application of salt/sand/gravel mixtures
• A front end loader and motor grader deployed to tackle steep, icy terrain
• Public works, police, and Fire/EMS operating in coordinated 24/7 shifts
“I want to highlight the determination and hard work of our public works team as they have worked tirelessly in very difficult conditions as well as our police department and Fire/EMS crew,” Keen said.
He added that crews will continue operating around the clock until conditions improve, noting that a stretch of above freezing temperatures would provide the greatest relief.
For a leader only weeks into the job, Keen’s rapid action, clear communication, and ability to secure resources during a statewide shortage have not gone unnoticed. Snowstorm Fern has been a trial by ice, but Keen’s early performance suggests Marion’s new town manager is prepared to meet challenges head on.
Sarah Taylor of Three County News will continue to provide updates as the town works through the storm’s aftermath and transitions into cleanup and recovery.
