Citizens Against Norfolk Southern Petition

A petition has been created for everyone to come together formally to oppose this project. Please sign it, share it, and urge others to do the same! The more names the better!

Click here to sign the petition

Found: Village Council minutes

Many village residents have been wondering - how could Council put up a parcel of land for sale without a public vote?

Lookee what I just found, from June 30, 2016 - MINUTES  from a Village Council meeting that took place at NOON.

click here:   

Village Council meeting minutes 30 June 2016

Any meetings of elected officials that are in addition to the regular schedule are required to be advertised in a very specific manner.  I wonder if this meeting was properly advertised according to Sunshine Law?  Does anyone else find it odd that it occurred during the middle of a normal work day???

I suggest village residents call each one of those council members personally and share your opinion on their action.

Make Sure YOUR Voice is Heard!

Below is a list of phone numbers that residents may use to contact Norfolk Southern.  

As was mentioned at the Swanton Township meeting Tuesday night (the 27th), if we can show enough opposition to this proposed rail yard, there is a good chance we can get it stopped before a hearing with PUCO is necessary.

So . . .  CALL THEM to voice your opposition to this proposed blight on our community:

Main Number:  855-NOR-FOLK   or   855-667-3655

Emergencies:    800-453-2530

Ethics & Compliance Hotline:  800-732-9279

Crossing Gates/Signals/Rough Crossings:  800-453-2530

SWANTON TOWNSHIP EXTENDS INVITATION TO HOST MEETING WITH VILLAGE COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSTS AND COMMENTS REGARDING ENTITIES WORKING TOGETHER TO FIGHT THIS. THE SWANTON TOWNSHIP ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE OFFERING TO HOST A MEETING WITH VILLAGE COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON OCTOBER 11 IN OUR UPSTAIRS MEETING ROOM. IF SOMEONE CAN HELP ARRANGE THIS WITH COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD WE ARE EXTENDING THE INVITATION. 

Yard signs

Signs have been ordered and will be $6.00 per sign and should be available early next week. I will post when they are available.

Unlike the Village Council meeting last evening where their residents were not allowed to speak and were shutdown when they tried to speak, the Swanton Township Trustee Regular Meeting is tonight at 7:30 PM at the Township Hall (corner of Airport and Scott). As soon as we adjourn the business meeting we will open the floor for questions and comments.

What are your ELECTED officials doing to stop the rail yard?

Many kids cross the tracks on their way to and from school, for athletic events, after school, and during the summer, what will they do when a train is blocking the tracks for long periods of time? If this rail yard comes in I believe the tracks at the crossings in the Village of Swanton will be blocked more times than not. Where will the kids cross? The overpass on Hallett, which will become an autobahn as the only way across the tracks, will they try to beat the trains which have proven to be deadly in Holland, or will they try to climb through the trains? None of these are good or safe answers and each could be deadly.

While we have these issues hanging over our community what has the Village of Swanton Council done? What they have done is detrimental to stopping this rail yard from coming in. Council has not taken a stand against this; some have said that they appear to be leaning towards wanting it to come in. They have not said NO to the railroad like we at Swanton Township have. Actually the Village of Swanton owns a piece of land that Norfolk Southern needs for the project. Norfolk Southern approached the Village and offered them $25,000 for the land. Did Village Council say the land is not for sale? No, they did not. What they did was put the land up for sale and put it out for bid as advertised in the Swanton Enterprise for the next five weeks.

As a former School Board member I would have been right on the front lines to protect the students but where is the current School Board and Administration? I hear crickets.

I encourage all residents to put pressure on the Village of Swanton Council and the School Board to get on board with Swanton Township in fighting this rail yard.

Notice from Village of Swanton

Just spotted on the Village of Swanton website, under "Special Notices" :

Land for Sale

Click on the link, above, to see exactly which piece of land the Village is now advertising for sale.

Coincidence???

I think not . . . .

FYI:  the next Village Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept 26 at 7 p.m.

Your Swanton Township Elected Officials are standing with you to fight the Norfolk Southern.  The Village of Swanton is not.  You need to get them to help us with the fight.

Join the Fight!

C.A.N.S.

Citizens  Against Norfolk Southern

Our community is under threat of a proposed 10 spur rail yard that Norfolk Southern desires to create north of the existing railroad tracks between St. Rte. 295 and Hallett Avenue.  Norfolk Southern claims to have 'option to purchase' agreements for the land needed.  The Village of Swanton has also been approached by railroad representatives to purchase a sliver of land within village boundaries.

This proposal by Norfolk Southern threatens to destroy 

our area, but we are willing to FIGHT 

for our community and quality of life!  

The construction of this rail yard could be detrimental to the entire Swanton community and could cause:

                  Noise Pollution

                  Dust

                  Leaching of Hazardous Materials

                  Light Pollution

                  Security Issues

                  Safety Issues

                  Industrial Blight

                  Decrease in Property Values

                  Traffic Bottlenecks

Some years ago, a proposal for a rail yard was made to the people of North Baltimore, our neighbors to the south.  Railroad representatives made promises to those residents, including promises of bringing more jobs to the area.  North Baltimore residents believed the railroad, and agreed to their proposal.  Drive through North Baltimore now, and what do you see??  There is no prosperity there!  Call their Mayor and listen to the list of problems that came from the railroad’s project in his town.  He was one of the landowners who sold land to the railroad for that project, and he has regretted it ever since. 

It is too late for North Baltimore - but it is NOT too late for us!  Swanton Township has already hired attorneys to fight this proposed scourge but it is vital that ALL of us - township residents and village residents alike - pull together to fight!  

It’s not too late!

We will use this blog and a Facebook page (Citizens Against Norfolk Southern), along with yard signs and open meetings to keep everyone informed of the FACTS.  Together, we can fight this threat, and together we can save our community!