Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Edward Burroughs Assembles Team to Clear Snow-Covered Streets
TEMPLE HILLS, Md. — After a week of frustration from residents who hadn’t seen snowplows following Monday’s storm, Council Vice Chair Edward Burroughs decided to take direct action.
Receiving hundreds of calls, emails, and texts from Prince George’s County residents, Burroughs spent Saturday clearing streets himself. Armed with a shovel, he emphasized the importance of helping elderly residents, who are especially vulnerable.
“It’s dangerous for seniors to tackle this kind of work,” Burroughs said as he shoveled. “Initially, I thought, ‘I’m a legislator; this isn’t my primary job.’ But for constituents, all that matters is results. If we can help, we should.”
One of those constituents, Valerie Fitzgerald, who has lived in Temple Hills for 46 years, said she was surprised to see Burroughs personally clearing snow.
“I called his office to explain the situation but never expected him to show up with a shovel,” Fitzgerald said. “My husband and I were shocked.”
Burroughs didn’t act alone. He partnered with friends and local volunteers, including Kelvin Moore, owner of DLC Landscaping Company. While one team tackled other streets, Burroughs and Moore, equipped with a Bobcat plow and salt truck, cleared six roads.
“We have many senior citizens who just can’t do this,” Moore said. “If not us, then who? We stay ready to help, and that makes the difference.”
Though the sun was shining, the roads posed a safety hazard as slush turned into ice. The county assured residents that salt trucks and plows were working on residential streets, but Burroughs said he plans to return Sunday to continue clearing roads.
