Public Service Committee Addresses Intermodal Costs, Dirty Lots, & Noise Ordinance

Commissioner Anna Barreiro – Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

The Jefferson County Public Service Committee met on Monday, April 29, 2013 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. The Meeting was Called to Order by Committee Chairman Tabor. Absent from Roll Call was Committee Member Dockery.

Two citizens addressed the Committee regarding the proposed Norfolk Southern Intermodal and the Dirty Lot Law.

The Agenda was accepted by Consent.  Chairman Tabor stated that he will keep the scope of the Committee’s part in addressing issues associated to the Norfolk Southern Intermodal to the charge of the Commission, which was to address the costs to the County for road closures costs.

Committee Member Barreiro stated that the community has requested detailed information about the costs associated with the Intermodal project, to no avail. She said that information must be more available than Norfolk Southern is sharing because the company continues to steadily move toward the installation of the Intermodal. Committee Member Carmichael stated that, without engineering plans, determining the cost to the County for road closures would be difficult. Committee Member Turner stated that he agrees that the movement on the part of Norfolk Southern to procure property points to some degree of planning on their part. Chairman Tabor stated that he will contact Norfolk Southern and request information on the proposed project. The Chairman requested that committee members submit questions regarding the project by tomorrow evening.

Chairman Tabor distributed information on the proposed Dirty Lot Law and the proposed Noise Ordinance. He requested that committee members familiarize themselves with the information and be prepared to address the issues at the next meeting. Committee members expressed concern about the differing needs of residents in County and the difficulty in meeting the needs of the community without infringing on property owner rights. The issue of a Dirty Lot Law had been passed to the Jefferson County Planning Commission who voted to send the issue back, deeming it as not a zoning issue.

The Meeting Adjourned.