Train Whistles Continue To Bring Complaints At Syracuse
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE -ÊAs part of the Tuesday agenda, the Syracuse Town Council allowed time for a presentation of a train whistle petition by Medusa Street residents.
The crowd was standing-room only. Extra chairs had to be brought in. The only problem was that, while everyone was there to talk about the nuisance of the train whistles, there were no petitions to present.
Syracuse resident John Korejwa said he thought the town should see if they could get the train whistles muted. He said he called CSX about it but got no response.
Town manager Brian Redshaw said he talked to the CSX safety director about muted whistles and was told it wasn't a possibility. "They're either off or on," Redshaw said.
Another Syracuse resident said he wasn't concerned about the increase in whistle blowing as much as he was about the EMS and fire department getting around the trains to respond to emergencies. The number of trains has increased in Syracuse three times as much as last year, he said.
He suggested the train crossing arms on Main, Front and Oak streets be double-gated to prevent drivers from going around the arms. The trains wouldn't need to blow their whistles as much then, he said.
Dennis Beadle said the train engineers are blowing their whistles way ahead of the actual crossings.
"It sounds like a 3-year-old driving by," Beadle said.
He said he would like Redshaw to see what the rules are regarding how far back engineers are supposed to blow their whistles.
But, he said, "I don't think it's time for a petition because a petition should have the exact wording of what we want to do."
Board president William Cutter said the board is committed to addressing the issue, but crossing arms on Oak, Front and Main streets have been committed to for some time. He said the state is going to pay for the crossing arms at Front and Main streets and CSX is going to put in crossing arms at Oak Street.
"I think it would be very unfair for you people to ask this board to pass an ordinance without gates up," Cutter said.
Donald Growcock had an opposite point of view from most of the crowd. He said, "One whistle that can save one life is well worth listening to."
Redshaw said if the town wants to pass an ordinance regarding train whistles, the first step is that all crossings have to be improved. Once an ordinance is passed by the town, the Indiana Department of Transportation has to review and approve the ordinance.
"It's going to be complicated but we'll work through it," Redshaw said.
Korejwa said an underpass also could be a solution to the problem.
Cutter said the best thing to do at the moment is to wait until the gates go up and then go from there.
In other business, the town council discussed the public dedication of utility and street improvements of Morgan Meadows.
According to the town council, they knew nothing of Dick Morgan's plans to dedicate the subdivision to the town, even though the project began more than four years ago.
Former town manager Matt Vigneault kept no paperwork on the subdivision or agreements with Morgan. Morgan also did not keep any paperwork and said it was all verbal agreements.
Morgan Meadows is located along County Line Road.
Cutter told Morgan that he needs to supply all necessary documentation about the project before the city will act on Morgan's request to publicly dedicate the buildings. Utilities and street plans all need to be inspected.
Morgan told the board, "I'm mad because of the whole way this thing has happened and the way this board was kept in the dark."
There are seven duplexes in the subdivision now and three already have meters. Morgan was told to work with the utilities department on turning the water on at the buildings that have meters.
Morgan and the council also disagreed on how many tap fees would be assessed to the subdivision. Morgan said he was suppose to pay three tap fees.
The council and Morgan agreed on 13 taps, one for each building, at a cost of $1,750 each. Morgan said it was all going to cost him more money, but he wanted the discussion over.
In discussion on the proposed community center, Bill Wight, Syracuse park board president, told the council the park board would like the public hearing on the preliminary determination to enter into a lease regarding the community center to be continued until next month.
He said they have the possibility of raising $2 million for the project if they can convince a few service organizations to join in on the project. Several foundations are willing to donate between $10,000 and $500,000 if service organizations go in on the project.
The board continued the hearing. [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE -ÊAs part of the Tuesday agenda, the Syracuse Town Council allowed time for a presentation of a train whistle petition by Medusa Street residents.
The crowd was standing-room only. Extra chairs had to be brought in. The only problem was that, while everyone was there to talk about the nuisance of the train whistles, there were no petitions to present.
Syracuse resident John Korejwa said he thought the town should see if they could get the train whistles muted. He said he called CSX about it but got no response.
Town manager Brian Redshaw said he talked to the CSX safety director about muted whistles and was told it wasn't a possibility. "They're either off or on," Redshaw said.
Another Syracuse resident said he wasn't concerned about the increase in whistle blowing as much as he was about the EMS and fire department getting around the trains to respond to emergencies. The number of trains has increased in Syracuse three times as much as last year, he said.
He suggested the train crossing arms on Main, Front and Oak streets be double-gated to prevent drivers from going around the arms. The trains wouldn't need to blow their whistles as much then, he said.
Dennis Beadle said the train engineers are blowing their whistles way ahead of the actual crossings.
"It sounds like a 3-year-old driving by," Beadle said.
He said he would like Redshaw to see what the rules are regarding how far back engineers are supposed to blow their whistles.
But, he said, "I don't think it's time for a petition because a petition should have the exact wording of what we want to do."
Board president William Cutter said the board is committed to addressing the issue, but crossing arms on Oak, Front and Main streets have been committed to for some time. He said the state is going to pay for the crossing arms at Front and Main streets and CSX is going to put in crossing arms at Oak Street.
"I think it would be very unfair for you people to ask this board to pass an ordinance without gates up," Cutter said.
Donald Growcock had an opposite point of view from most of the crowd. He said, "One whistle that can save one life is well worth listening to."
Redshaw said if the town wants to pass an ordinance regarding train whistles, the first step is that all crossings have to be improved. Once an ordinance is passed by the town, the Indiana Department of Transportation has to review and approve the ordinance.
"It's going to be complicated but we'll work through it," Redshaw said.
Korejwa said an underpass also could be a solution to the problem.
Cutter said the best thing to do at the moment is to wait until the gates go up and then go from there.
In other business, the town council discussed the public dedication of utility and street improvements of Morgan Meadows.
According to the town council, they knew nothing of Dick Morgan's plans to dedicate the subdivision to the town, even though the project began more than four years ago.
Former town manager Matt Vigneault kept no paperwork on the subdivision or agreements with Morgan. Morgan also did not keep any paperwork and said it was all verbal agreements.
Morgan Meadows is located along County Line Road.
Cutter told Morgan that he needs to supply all necessary documentation about the project before the city will act on Morgan's request to publicly dedicate the buildings. Utilities and street plans all need to be inspected.
Morgan told the board, "I'm mad because of the whole way this thing has happened and the way this board was kept in the dark."
There are seven duplexes in the subdivision now and three already have meters. Morgan was told to work with the utilities department on turning the water on at the buildings that have meters.
Morgan and the council also disagreed on how many tap fees would be assessed to the subdivision. Morgan said he was suppose to pay three tap fees.
The council and Morgan agreed on 13 taps, one for each building, at a cost of $1,750 each. Morgan said it was all going to cost him more money, but he wanted the discussion over.
In discussion on the proposed community center, Bill Wight, Syracuse park board president, told the council the park board would like the public hearing on the preliminary determination to enter into a lease regarding the community center to be continued until next month.
He said they have the possibility of raising $2 million for the project if they can convince a few service organizations to join in on the project. Several foundations are willing to donate between $10,000 and $500,000 if service organizations go in on the project.
The board continued the hearing. [[In-content Ad]]