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Mayor’s Action Center receives over 1,200 calls Monday

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Have you ever wondered who answers the phone when you call the Mayor’s Action Center?

Winter is prime time for the people at the other end of the line.

From 7:30 Monday morning to mid-afternoon the call center took 1,200 calls. They say their job is to remain calm, even when callers are already annoyed.

“Thank you for calling the Mayor’s Action Center. This is Jeffrey, how may I help you?” said Jeffrey Burgin as he picked up the phone. He took over 200 calls in his first five hours of work.

The office is located on the 21st floor of the City-County Building. Just 12 people work there. This time of year is mostly about snow.

“Okay I’m going to go and get this taken care of for you and send it over to DPW,” said Burgin.

Once it gets to the Department of Public Works, crews are sent out to fulfill the request. Today they were clearing storm drains and intersections.

But DPW says they can’t do it alone. They’re asking for your help as well. George Hensley has been clearing snow from the storm drain on his street in Irvington for 30 years.

“It doesn’t bother me, it’s aggravating though,” said Hensley.

The city says this is especially necessary with rain in the forecast later this week, and temperatures above freezing.

“As that snow starts to melt tomorrow that water will have a place to go,” said DPW spokesman, Scott Manning.

The Mayor’s Action Center has also been getting calls about streets that aren’t passable, even the ones that have been plowed. The city says its because cars haven’t been moved.

“If you have an opportunity, please move your car off the street,” said Manning. That gives the snow plow drivers an opportunity to clear the street curb to curb.”

It also gives the folks in MAC a little bit of a rest

“Thanks for calling the Mayor’s Action Center,” said Burgin.

MAC has live callers 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you call during nights and weekends the calls get routed to the appropriate city department where its answered Monday morning. MAC can be reached at 317-327-4622 or online here.