By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The follow-up to the Geissman property issues did not give the New Washington Village Council many concrete answers, but it did lead to one unavoidable decision: contacting the railroad company to reopen the crossing at Poplar Street.
Brad Geissman brought the issue before the council at the final April meeting, where he expressed dissatisfaction to being shorted for village services while still having to pay the tax proposed by the council. Despite being inside village limits, Geissman’s property has no sanitary sewer access and is not accessible to the village by Chatfield Center Road.
The village once had access to the property, but that was before the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway closed the crossing at Poplar Street.
Councilman Brian Agin asked if they would be able to force the railroad company to reopen the crossing if the village owned a certain amount of land on the other side. Village Solicitor Tim Obringer stated someone may have a potential for an easement from the railroad if they owned property on both sides, but he was uncertain if that situation could be applied in this case.
“Railroads are closing crossings all across the country. Anytime they can, they will,” cautioned Obringer. “They want to be able to increase the speed without the risk of killing somebody, which obviously is a liability for them.”
Obringer said the issue is happening across the country as railroad companies work to upgrade the speed of the tracks.
“They want to close as many crossings as they can, especially crossings that don’t have gates,” Obringer added.
Though Geissman had proposed being released from the village limits and ceded back to Cranberry Township, the council was not in favor of rezoning the area.
Councilman Joe Blum will be contacting the railroad company to determine if the crossing could be reopened in order for the village to once again have access to the property in question.
Village Clerk Julie Cronau announced that G.E. filed an antidegradation request with the Ohio EPA. The request, a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, referred to an increase of activity in a water body that could possibly result in lowering the water quality. Cronau said it was relevant to mercury effluent limitations.
Mayor Ben Lash asked the attending members if they had any possibilities for the council seat recently vacated by Paul Forster. Council members have spoken to possible parties, but no one has stepped forward with a willingness to accept the position. Forster’s term will be up in 2017.
The next village council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on May 23.
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