Houston County Courier - Local News

Copyright 2012 - Polk County Publishing Company

Young St. railroad crossing slated for permanent closure
Houston County Courier

By Lynda Jones
Managing Editor

The Crockett City Council voted unanimously to close the Young St. railroad crossing to abate the level of noise that impacts the Prince Hall Apartments. The action came Monday, Jan. 9, following a public hearing on the subject. During the public hearing, Chris Akbari and Tracy Watson of the Itex Group explained how the noise level from the railroad crossing exceeds the limits established by HUD. Watson conducted the environmental study which revealed the decibel level at the Prince Hall Apartments is about 88 when a train is sounding its horn at the crossing. She explained HUD regulations have a cap of 65 decibels. Akbari and Watson explained HUD will not provide the nearly $8 million grant needed to renovate the Prince Hall Apartments if the sound level is not brought up to code. The options of a 12-foot concrete barrier wall adjacent to the property would cost about $200,000 to construct, and it would only help about 10 of the 30 buildings in the apartment complex, according to Akbari. He further said that the development of a quiet zone would not work because the crossing is too close to Austin and Bell Streets. He said the quiet zone would have to be a minimum of one-half mile in length. He also cited the cost of a quiet zone as too expensive and just not feasible. Ruling out the first two options, the only other choice is to close the Young St. crossing, Akbari explained. He also state the proposed plan has been approved by HUD. No citizens spoke at the public hearing for or against the closing, but Mayor Wayne Mask stated the Rev. Harry Fred Scott had told Mask earlier in the day that he (Scott) is opposed to the closing. According to the agreement approved by the city council Monday, Union Pacific Railroad will pay the city $20,000 and the city, in cooperation with the railroad, will permanently close the grade crossing at Young St. The city will install and maintain permanent/temporary barricades on both sides of the tracks at the grade crossing to be located off the railroad’s right-of-way at Railroad Milepost 120.47, prior to removal of the railroad crossing surface and approaches. The city also will remove roadway approaches up to the track tie ends. The railroad, at its expense, will remove the railroad crossing surface and warning devices which currently exist on the railroad’s right-of-way. In other action, the council unanimously accepted the low bid of Lawrence Construction to build two- and three-bedroom units under the HOME Preservation Program. Crockett City Administrator Ron Duncan said in his recommendation, “Lawrence Construction was the lowest bidder based on base price and base price with options, as well as offering to complete the homes within the shortest time frame.” The amount of time used to complete a home is important, Duncan said, because the families in the homes must vacate the premises until the construction is complete. Duncan said it is important that the time families must stay with relatives or friends be minimized. Bids were received from Lawrence Construction, Nirvana, Randy Malouf, Broxson Hardware and Whitaker Homes. The city council additionally gave unanimous plat approval to Lot 5 in Phase 2 of the Renaissance Medical Park. The proposed day care center will be built on the property. During the council meeting, Duncan reminded residents that when a holiday falls on a Monday, there is no garbage pick-up service until Thursday. The city administrator also addressed the city’s water use restrictions. Duncan said the restrictions still are necessary and are in effect. According to Duncan, the water level at Houston County Lake is about 42 inches below normal. It was about four feet below normal when the restrictions were put in place, Duncan said. Monthly reports were given by Crockett Police Department Sgt. Mike Harrell and Crockett Fire Chief John Angerstein. In response to a question from Councilman Chris Gunnels, Harrell said the police cars recently purchased from the City of Lufkin now are in service, and each offi cer has his own patrol car. There were 37 false alarms in December, according to the CPD report. Councilman Robert Meadows noted this is a signifi cant decrease from one year ago. There was a total of 419 calls to CPD in December. There were 38 arrests and 15 vehicle accidents according to the report. Angerstein reported the newly elected Crockett Fire Department offi cers are Deputy Chief Justin Brent, a member since 2005; Assistant Chief George Jansky, a member since 1999; Rescue Captain Detric Murray, a member since 2000; Training Captain Travis McKenney, a member since 2000; and Lietenant Sedrick Harris, a member since 2008. The fi re chief also reported delivery of the new fi re truck is expected by the end of the month. Mask reminded council members the Tex-21/US 287 Corridor Task Force will hold its regional meeting at the Crockett Civic Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23. The mayor encouraged council members and other interested persons to attend the meeting.