David Miller (left) who was appointed as interim village council president at the February 20 village council meeting, is pictured with outgoing village president Jim Cummings with a desk top plaque the council presented to him at his last meeting as village president.
David Miller appointed interim village council president
By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax Village Council appointed current trustee David Miller to fill the role as Village president by a 5-1 margin at its regular meeting February 20. Carolyn Kelly voted no and Miller left the room when discussion took place and the vote was taken.
The vacancy was created when current Village President Jim Cummings read a letter of resignation due to a recent health scare at the February 6 council meeting.
Cummings’ term expires in November and Miller will take over the role until the November election.
Cummings noted appointing president pro tempore, Nick Ludwig, would be the first consideration, however Ludwig said because his new job currently requires long hours, he did not feel he would be able to provide the attention the job deserves. Ludwig did note he may consider running for the position in November.
The Council unanimously accepted the resignation of Cummings at the regular meeting.
Railroad Quiet Zone Discussion Picks Up
The Village will consider having a representative from OHM Advisory Architects, Engineers and Planners attend a future meeting to explain how a Railroad Quiet Zone works and the service the company offers to navigate a municipality through the process.
Streets, Sidewalks and Census Chairperson Joline Chaney presented OHM’s contract to perform a feasibility study at the February 20 meeting.
If the Village hires OHM Advisory, OHM will conduct an evaluation of the two at-grade railroad crossings within the Village of Climax to determine the potential and appropriate treatments to create a new Quiet Zone. The evaluation will provide budget level costs associated with each crossing and the final report will provide the Council a clear understanding of the process to create the railroad Quiet Zone.
The services provided by OHM Advisory will provide a report that determines the feasibility and estimated cost to construct the railroad quiet zone at the two crossings in the Village; the next steps required to create the Quiet Zone; and two in person meetings to discuss the project.
Deliverables for the project are expected to be within six weeks of a notice to proceed.
OHM Advisors will be paid $4,238 for its services only. Costs for the actual Quiet Zone feasibility study, final design, bid documents, and construction administration services are not included in the proposal.
Based on federal rule, local government agencies may restrict the usage of train horns at railroad crossings which meet specified criteria. These crossings are then considered to be within a “Quiet Zone.” On approach to such crossings train locomotives are not required to sound their horns.
Localities that want to establish a quiet zone are first required to mitigate the increased risk caused by the absence of a horn. In a quiet zone, train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with other Federal regulations or railroad operating rules.
Minimum warning device requirements for public crossings designated as Quiet Zones include flashing light signals with gates, constant warning time train detection circuitry and power-off indicators visible to the train crew. In addition, crossings in Quiet Zones typically require additional safety improvements such as gates with channelization or medians, four-quadrant gates, one-way streets, and crossing closures.
In other items covered at the meeting:
Library, Parks and Cemetery Chairperson Janet Sutherland said she is reviewing ways to make the Village Park more appealing for residents and offered a suggestion if the budget will allow it, to designate an area in the park for a corn hole game area. She located one company that will sell a concrete corn hole game for $930, however with shipping, the total would be $1228.
The services provided by OHM Advisory will provide a report that determines the feasibility and estimated cost to construct the railroad quiet zone at the two crossings in the Village; the next steps required to create the Quiet Zone; and two in person meetings to discuss the project.
Deliverables for the project are expected to be within six weeks of a notice to proceed.
OHM Advisors will be paid $4,238 for its services only. Costs for the actual Quiet Zone feasibility study, final design, bid documents, and construction administration services are not included in the proposal.
Based on federal rule, local government agencies may restrict the usage of train horns at railroad crossings which meet specified criteria. These crossings are then considered to be within a “Quiet Zone.” On approach to such crossings train locomotives are not required to sound their horns.
Localities that want to establish a quiet zone are first required to mitigate the increased risk caused by the absence of a horn. In a quiet zone, train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with other Federal regulations or railroad operating rules.
Minimum warning device requirements for public crossings designated as Quiet Zones include flashing light signals with gates, constant warning time train detection circuitry and power-off indicators visible to the train crew. In addition, crossings in Quiet Zones typically require additional safety improvements such as gates with channelization or medians, four-quadrant gates, one-way streets, and crossing closures.
In other items covered at the meeting:
Library, Parks and Cemetery Chairperson Janet Sutherland said she is reviewing ways to make the Village Park more appealing for residents and offered a suggestion if the budget will allow it, to designate an area in the park for a corn hole game area. She located one company that will sell a concrete corn hole game for $930, however with shipping, the total would be $1228.
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