City railroad crossings to see upgrades

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Area residents who fear for their vehicle suspensions when driving over Van Wert railroad crossings should breathe a sigh of relief later this summer as a $1.5-million project gets underway to reconstruct nine railroad crossings within the city.

According to a plan outlined by Mayor Don Farmer during a special meeting of Van Wert City Council on Monday, railroad crossings on North Washington, North Jefferson, North Tyler, North Cherry and North Walnut streets will undergo reconstruction, while crossings at North Market, North Race, North Franklin and North Wayne streets will be reconstructed and also receive new warning lights and crossing gates.

According to the mayor, crossings will be reconstructed from the base up with asphalt, with the exception of North Washington Street, which will be rebuilt using concrete.

Some railroad ties would also be replaced within the city, Mayor Farmer added.

Funding for the project would be through a contract between the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC), the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and the Genesee & Wyoming and Chicago Fort Wayne and Eastern railroads.

Mayor Farmer added that, in line with state and federal guidelines that have supported a 25 percent reduction in redundant railroad crossings in U.S. communities since the 1990s, five of the city’s railroad crossings would be closed. Those include Anderson Avenue (which has already been barricaded for two years), as well as crossings at Pleasant, North Vine, North Chestnut and North Harrison streets.

The mayor noted that the project has been in the works since February 2012, and said he was glad the project was finally coming to fruition.

“It’s been a long time, an awful long time,” Mayor Farmer added.

The only cost to the city would be to provide manpower needed to put up permanent barricades at the closed crossings.

Van Wert City Council would also need to approve emergency legislation authorizing the project, while a public hearing has been scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, in Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building to allow city residents to voice their input related to the project.

City residents who cannot attend the public hearing have until June 10 to provide written feedback on the project.

Council plans to read the enabling legislation for the first time on May 27, and adopt the measure during a special meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11.

Mayor Farmer stated during the regular City Council meeting that followed the special meeting that income tax revenues were up more than $27,000 in April, and a total of $151,000 for the year to-date. The hotel-motel tax total is $60,817.63 for the year.

Also during the regular City Council meeting, City Auditor Martha Balyeat noted that revenues were up more than $225,000 for the year, but noted that $140,000 of that total comes from a reimbursement for funds spent to construct a rail spur to the 1,500-acre Jobs Ready Site north of the city.

She also stated that the city has spent $309,662.54 less than was budgeted so far this year.

Law Director John Hatcher also talked about income tax enforcement work his office has been doing in Van Wert Municipal Court.

Hatcher said his office has sent out 496 letters to those delinquent in paying city income taxes, while 100 people have paid their taxes in full, another 68 have signed payment agreements and 17 others have requested payment agreements. Court cases are currently being prepared against 11 delinquent taxpayers, he added.

The law director said 29 delinquent taxpayers couldn’t be located, while another 234 cases are currently pending.

The next meeting of Van Wert City Council will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 (Monday, May 25, is the Memorial Day holiday).