Daily Archives: April 25, 2006

City of Peoria, Kellar Branch

Surface Transportation Board rules in Carver Lumber’s favor

11 Comments

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) ruled today that the city can’t tear up the Kellar Branch for at least another 90 days so Carver Lumber has time to evaluate the service they receive from Central Illinois Railway (CIRY) over the spur connecting to the Union Pacific (UP) line to the west. This is exactly what Carver Lumber requested — time to evaluate whether this service would be adequate before the Kellar Branch is irreversibly turned into a hiking/biking trail. I’m sure it was sweet vindication for Carver to read the STB’s statement: “Carver Lumber’s request for time to evaluate the service options that the shipper may now have is reasonable in the circumstances presented here.”

During the 90 days between now and July 24, CIRY has to prove its service over the western spur will be adequate and comparable to service Carver used to receive from Pioneer Industrial Rail (PIRY) over the Kellar Branch, and both CIRY and Carver have to report their findings to the STB so it can make a final ruling. Also, PIRY will have an extra 20 days (until August 14) to respond to CIRY and Carver’s filings.

Expect an editorial sometime in the next week to decry the loss of grant money for the Kellar Branch rail-to-trail conversion. Boo hoo hoo.

City Council, City of Peoria, Peoria Police

Ordinance against loud motorcycles should be enforced

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I disagree with Bill Dennis on whether the noise ordinance should pass the council tonight (I think it should pass), but I agree with one thing he said: “an overly loud motorcycle wakes people up in the middle of the night just like a ‘boom-car’ does.”

When Police Chief Settingsgaard spoke at the Uplands Residential Association meeting, several people brought up the fact that loud motorcycles were much more of a nuisance in our neighborhood than boom cars. In fact, we meet in a basement in the center of a church with thick walls, and during the meeting we could clearly hear a loud motorcycle go by, but at no point did we hear any boom cars.

What the chief told us was that (1) there’s already an ordinance against loud pipes on motorcycles, but that (2) it is not enforced. Why isn’t it enforced? The police have not received any complaints about it. Councilwoman Van Auken, who was also at the meeting, said she’s never received a complaint from a constituent on loud motorcycles either.

The chief likened this issue to the jaywalking situation in town not long ago. Jaywalking laws are not usually enforced either, and no one generally complains about it. When someone did complain and the police enforced jaywalking laws one day, Peorians got all in a tizzy about it. So now you’ll have to forgive him for being a bit gun-shy about enforcing the loud motorcycle ordinance.

However, if you really want to see that ordinance enforced, call the police and complain. Loudly. If the police know that this is an issue that bothers Peorians (not just one, but many), they will respond. Their number is 673-4521.

Peoria Public Schools

Glen Oak relocation temporarily delayed

Peoria Public School Superintendent Ken Hinton announced last night the district will stop pursuing the Glen Oak Park school siting process until they receive public input, according to the Journal Star today.  They will have a public forum to discuss the site and the siting process at Woodruff High School on Monday, May 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

That’s a step in the right direction.  It’s easy to be cynical about such a move, but I would advise against it.  The neighbors should take the school board at its word that it’s willing to listen and seriously consider public concerns about this course of action.  They should come to the meeting prepared to give a well-reasoned defense of their position and, preferably, offer alternative solutions.  Those in favor of the Glen Oak Park site should also turn out, if there are any of those out there.

Finally, when it comes to deliberating afterwards, the school board should look for ways to address the neighbors’ concerns and come up with a reasonable compromise.  If there’s no modification at all of their original plans as a result of this meeting, the citizens are going to feel that it was a sham forum.