Council speeds silent train decision

After passing on a first reading Tuesday, the Lebanon City Council held a special called meeting Wednesday to vote on second readings of several items, including an ordinance to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Wilson County Road Commission to maintain the Hamilton Springs development's silent railroad crossing.

Speaking before Wednesday's meeting, Public Works Commissioner Jeff Baines said the second vote on the interlocal agreement needed to be taken quickly.

After passing on a first reading Tuesday, the Lebanon City Council held a special called meeting Wednesday to vote on second readings of several items, including an ordinance to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Wilson County Road Commission to maintain the Hamilton Springs development's silent railroad crossing.

Speaking before Wednesday's meeting, Public Works Commissioner Jeff Baines said the second vote on the interlocal agreement needed to be taken quickly.

"The road commission meets this Friday and only meets once a month," he said. "This is a long, bureaucratic process. Once it goes through the local process, it still has a long way to go."

The council passed ordinance's first reading concerning the installation of quiet zones to cut down the noise the Music City Star trains make as they pass through Lebanon. A quiet zone creates barriers in lieu of a train whistle to keep motorists from crossing the tracks when trains are approaching. Mt. Juliet already has silent crossings.

Mike Wrye with the architectural firm, Lose and Associates, said the developers of Hamilton Springs are willing to pay to create the two proposed quiet zones, but they need an interlocal agreement between the city and county to maintain the railroad crossings.

"The city would be the facilitator," said Mayor Philip Craighead on Tuesday.

Councilor Kathy Warmath said she wanted to explore the possibility of getting state and/or federal funds to pay for the quiet zone projects and a train station to be built at the development. The council agreed to send resolutions to state and federal representatives within the county to see if any funds are available.

At that time, Warmath said no one had inquired about funding, and it couldn't hurt to ask and see what funds might be available to pay for the projects. She also said Mt. Juliet has silent crossings and had government assistance to build them.

City attorney Andy Wright said Wednesday he drafted the two letters - one requesting state and federal assistance in creating quiet zones, not just for the two proposed stops in Hamilton Springs, but for all the stops in Lebanon. Wright said he also drafted letters requesting state and federal funds to build the train station planed for Hamilton Springs as well.

The council also approved:

• a first reading to authorize line-item transfers for the Lebanon Sanitation Department to cover sanitation truck maintenance.

• a first reading to authorize buying a refuse truck for the Sanitation Department.

• an ordinance to authorize buying a skid steer loader for the water plant.

• bids for a three-year maintenance agreement for heating and air conditioning units at the Jimmy Floyd Family Center.

• a first reading to authorize buying two pull-behind chippers for the Street Department.

• a first reading to authorize a line-item transfer for the engineering department.

• a first reading to approve the updated Esri Term License Software Agreement for the GIS Department.