Commissioners OK railroad "quiet zone" project
ALBANY — Tuesday morning, Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker approved by consensus a request by Roadmaster Wayne Mink to accept a $700,000 grant to develop a railroad crossing “quiet zone” at the request of a Millersburg resident.
Since 2005, communities have been allowed to request “quiet zones”, which are areas at least a half-mile long where safety gates, flashing lights, bells, warning time indicators and power out indicators replace the mandatory sounding of warning horns for 15 to 20 seconds at railroad crossings.
Horns can still be sounded in emergency situations.
Mink said the money comes from the American Rescue Plan at the request of Senator Sara Gelser-Blouin, D-Corvallis.
The proposed quiet zone would be in the Millersburg Drive area.
Although all three commissioners supported the proposal, Commissioner Tucker was concerned that such a project will cost more than the $700,000 allocation, possible as much as $1 million. He would not like to see county Road Funds used to make up that difference.
After the meeting, Mink said this project requires cooperation among the Federal Railroad Administration, ODOT Rail and the Road Department.
Grant funds would need to be expended no later than June 30, 2024.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Were told by Planning & Building Director Steve Wills that there were 288 total permits issued in January, including five building permits for housing— four single family dwellings and one manufactured dwelling. The Department has waived $113,381 in fees for rebuilding projects in the wildlife recovery area in the Santiam Canyon. Commissioner Sprenger told Wills she is impressed with the quarterly meetings between Planning & Building officials and representatives of communities that contract with the department for permitting and inspections.
- Approved a grant of $254,335 for the Linn-Benton Radio Improvement Project and another grant of $20,000 for the Search & Rescue program, moving money from a checking account.
- Approved a $1,200 refund for a construction permit for Karl Lonebeck.
- Discussed how to deal with a Sweet Home homeowner who is numerous years in arrears on property taxes, to the point of foreclosure by the county. The homeowner has some health issues and asked for some time to pay his taxes. By consent the commissioners agreed to give the homeowner 30 more days (he is past the six-year deadline) before taking further action on the matter.
Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.
