Scott City City Council questions train whistles

Train whistles have long been a welcome sound in Scott City, a railroad town since the beginning of the 20th century. But a few members of the city council think trains coming through town lately are blowing their own horns a bit too much.

At Monday night's meeting, Councilman Jeff Curnell proposed the city draft an ordinance prohibiting train whistles during certain hours.

Fire chief Jay Cassout, who has a railroading background, said engineers must blow their whistle in a manner prescribed by federal regulations. He met some disagreement.

"It seems to me a lot of engineers abuse this," Curnell said, claiming some blow their whistles for 30-second durations.

Mayor Tim Porch doubted all the engineers are operating according to federal policy. "Some of them have their own calling cards," he said.

He agreed when Cassout said the whistles are necessary for safety. "The last thing we want is anyone to get hit at a crossing," Porch said, "but these are all lit, gated crossings."

No action was taken on Curnell's proposal.

Acting police chief Lt. Roy Butler asked the council for an ordinance restricting the use of electric scooters on city roads.

The council directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance subjecting the scooters to the same restrictions as skateboards. Skateboards are banned from Main Street, Second Street, the city's commercial district and private property without the owner's permission.

In other business, state Rep. Lanie Black, R-Charleston, explained the state budget crisis to the council. "The state is in a mess. I think one of my biggest jobs is to communicate that the state is in a mess," Black said.

Enumerating a number of tax cuts and tax credits that were instituted in the past decade, he told the council program cuts will have to be made and revenue may have to be increased. But, he said, "I'm not pushing for a tax increase."

sblackwell@semissourian.com

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