Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Council forms committee to review RR quiet zone proposals; residents sound off

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By KEVIN NEVERS

With proposals in hand for an engineering feasibility study of a railroad quiet zone in Downtown Chesterton, the Town Council has taken the next step.

At their meeting Monday night, they voted unanimously to form an ad hoc committee for the purpose of reviewing the three proposals and choosing the successful one. Tapped for the committee were council members Jim Ton, R-1st, and Emerson DeLaney, R-5th; Town Manager Bernie Doyle; and Town Engineer Mark O’Dell.

The council also instructed Doyle to arrange a meeting of the committee as soon as possible--and to notify the press of that meeting--so that the contract may be awarded to the successful proposer at its next meeting, Monday, Sept. 23.

The proposals were submitted by the following:

--James F. Giannini & Associates of Chesterton.

--Weaver Consultants Group LLC of Chicago.

--And CTC Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas.

Meanwhile at Monday’s meeting, the council heard from three residents who live along or uncomfortably close to the Norfolk Southern line, and who are in dire need of some peace and quiet.

First up: Kim Goldak, reading from a prepared statement: “Currently, we know what the one major weak link is in our Downtown, namely, the noise from trains. Just as we came together to promote our strengths, I believe that we should attempt to exhaust all measures to remove our Achilles heel. We all know, whether it’s a town hall meeting, sitting in a cafe or at the European Market, the noise is overwhelming.”

“Our town has CEDIT money, receives a tourism tax, and has other sources of money for the health and safety of its citizens,” Goldak added. “There are grants available from many sources, including federal and railroad moneys. I believe this should be a high priority and in my opinion this council should do all that is possible to make it happen to ensure that our Chesterton remains the amazing town that we all love. I have complete faith in you to get this done.”

Joining Goldak was Mitchell Batson, who grew up in Chesterton, moved away, then moved back, and who is shocked by how many more trains pass through the Downtown than did only 30 years ago. “It wasn’t so bad in the Nineties,” he said. “I just don’t remember the trains horns being as prominent as they are now. It’s about the quality of life. Thank you, I’m glad this is an issue that’s being addressed.”

Robert Carp also grew up in Chesterton. Back in the day, he figures, there were maybe 20 trains all day. Now there’s one every 20 or 30 minutes.”

Eighty a day, Ton interjected.

Let’s call it 80. Summer, Carp said, is the worst, because living in a house without central A/C means he has to keep the windows open, and that means the trains seem as though they’re barreling down his hallway. Sometimes the engineers just lay on their horns and blast them continuously, all the way from the South Jackson Blvd. grade crossing to the North 15th Street one. “The quality of life has gone down,” Carp said.

 

 

Posted 9/11/2019

 
 
 
 

 

 

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