City truck route decision 'derailed'
Staff reporter
The wheels of government continue to turn slowly. Very slowly.
With about a dozen people at a special Marion City Council meeting Monday afternoon to hear from a representative of Union Pacific Railroad, they were disappointed to learn that the representative would not be at the meeting.
The city did receive information from the railroad company that was to be discussed in an executive session.
The railroad crossing on Burbridge Road recently was closed by the railroad because trains are traveling at nearly 50 mph and visibility issues make the crossing unsafe, particularly for large trucks and trailers. That crossing was the designated route for five truck drivers to use to park their trucks and/or trailers in an open field off of Grant Street. Without that access, truck drivers had to access the parking lot by driving through a residential area on Grant Street.
The council, minus Bill Holdeman, waited for city attorney Dan Baldwin to come to the meeting. When Baldwin entered the room, he requested a 10-minute executive session for attorney-client privilege.
Following the 10-minute session, another 10-minute session was called for the same purpose.
At 1:28 p.m., Baldwin exited the council room because he had to attend to cases scheduled at Marion County District Court.
Mayor Mary Olson asked the three council members for discussion regarding the issue. Councilman Stacey Collett said an offer was on the table from Union Pacific Railroad. Olson said the council had to decide whether or not to accept it.
With Baldwin at the courthouse, it was determined no decisions could be made without his assistance, so the meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
No decisions means the status quo of truck traffic on Grant Street.
Residents in the area park vehicles along both sides of Grant Street and at the corner of Grant and Arbor streets, making it difficult for tractor-trailers to negotiate the turn.
Some residents in that area have been concerned about public safety issues as a result of the increased truck traffic with Grant and Main streets being the only access to and from the truck parking lot.
When truck parking lot owner Darryl Brewer was contacted for an interview, he said he could not comment on the case at this time.
Olson said public comment would be heard during the public forum portion of the next council meeting which is at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the city building.
It was not known at press time whether any decisions would be made at that meeting.
