Ritzville City Council discusses train congestion

At the Sept. 16 meeting of the Ritzville City Council the double tracking of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line was the main topic of discussion for council members.

The meeting began with Karin Schaefer addressing the council regarding parking on Washington Street.

She reported employees and business owners on Main Avenue are using the on street parking on Washington Street to park for the day. This has lead to her customers to not be able to find parking close to her business. Schafer said sometimes she has to bring clients who cannot walk for a long distance from areas where there is parking available through the back door in the alley.

As a remedy for this problem she requested that a one-hour parking zone be established in front of her business, which would provide a space for her clients. Mayor Linda Kadlec referred the letter from Schafer to the Public Works Committee for further review.

During her report, Mayor Kadlec told the council about a meeting she had with BNSF officials, Adams County Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden, Fire Chief Jim Bostic, and City Clerk Kris Robbins.

At this meeting Kadlec expressed her concerns for Ritzville regarding the double tracking including the increased noise and impacts on the wheat industry. Bostic also added to the concerns regarding fire and EMS response to the north side of the city. He said responders are regularly delayed by train traffic already and there is no fire station on that side of the tracks.

Kadlec also reported information received from BNSF during the meeting such as the benefits of having double tracking and how it will help move train traffic more efficiently along the line, BNSF was not expecting to have an increased business on this line and that double tracking was not expected to be completed until 2018.

Discussion at the meeting was reported to have covered the costs of increasing separation from the railroad to reduce train horn noises and the costs of building vehicle and pedestrian overpasses to keep both halves of the town connected.

McFadden also spoke about the report from BNSF oficials at the meeting who reported train traffic would not increase by 40 percent. McFadden said in congressional hearings in Washington, D.C., the train volume increases had been talked about at 40 percent or higher. He was not sure why the officials at the meeting were reporting the 40 percent increase in train traffic was not true.

Police Chief Dave McCormick then joined the conversation about the train traffic through Ritzville. He reported he had been to a meeting to discuss the hazards of Bakken Oil, which is being transported through Washington to four refineries on the coast. At the meeting he said it was reported 18 Bakken Oil trains pass through Washington each day. However, if the export ban on Bakken Oil is lifted the number of trains expected to traverse Washington could potentially reach 90 per day.

Bakken Oil is more flamable than regular oil due to a higher concentration of volatile fuels in the oil which makes it much more hazardous to transport.

Kadlec said she would form a committee to explore all option for the city regarding the double tracking and potentially increased train traffic.

Public Works Director Larry Swift reported crews had received training on the new water meters that are being installed. He also reported crews were replacing old water lines in the city, some of which had been eaten through with rust in n numerous places.

Fire Chief Bostic reported to the council the fire department had finished inspection of the fire hydrants in the city and that there were only a few minor leaks discovered during the tests. Bostic also told the council he was working on a six month report in reference to the rating survey to deliver to the council to show the progress made to improve the fire rating. He said during the meeting with BNSF officials he had spoken to the public relations officer who had offered to help with anything the city may need as BNSF is looking for public relations opportunities. Bostic said he approached the official with a request for eight new cylinders for the fire department’s self-contained breathing apparatuses, which totaled about $4,000. Bostic had ordered the cylinders and BNSF would be paying for them and there would be no cost to the city.

Bostic also reported the new fire engine had been turned over to the shipping broker and that members of the fire department, city police department and the city work crew would be participating in a driving training simulator next week. The simulator trailer would be parked in front of the fire department.

The meeting then moved to new business and the council adopted resolution 2014-10 regarding changes to the by-laws and inter-local agreement to the Cities Insurance Association of Washington.

The council then adopted resolutions 2014-11 and 2014-12 during a show cause hearing for 209 East Broadway Avenue and 505 West Broadway Avenue, declaring the properties as hazards. The properties were given 10 days before city crews would clean up the properties and the cost of the clean up be charged to the property owner.

The council then voted to approve the claims based on the recommendation of approval from the finance committee totaling $149,151.30.