Southern Sojourner

Response and further comment on the Hub

    Commissioner Humphryes responded yesterday afternoon to my e-mail.  As you can see below he dodged all the questions for the most part, but at least he or someone in his office responded.  I am sure I wasn't the only one to hound him.  Here is his response:

I am aware that Norfolk Southern (NS) was interested in moving into the existing industrial park for their intermodal facility. The plan that I saw did not include any land on the south side of the railroad tracks except for enough land for them to build a private road for the trucks to use to load and unload the railcars.

 

We will see at the zoning hearing tomorrow what their plans are now. It seems they have options on property that goes way beyond that.

 

Commissioner Humphryes

    The zoning hearing today promises to be interesting.  I am not going but the local news reported that some expect 200-400 to show up.  I'd be surprised at that number but there will no doubt be a bunch. 
We will see how that goes.

    I looked up some locations of other hubs.  One is in Austell, GA, outside of Atlanta.  I had T call and speak with someone in the mayor's office.  The mayor was out of town, but I got his direct number and told to call him next week.  T asked about the hub and the community relations.  Basically, they told her that if the decision has been made (which we think has been) there is nothing you can do.  "You can fight it, but you will lose, the railroads just have too much money" is exactly what they told us.
     As far as communty impact, they said they were able to negotiate a $5,000,000 settlement with Norfolk Southern that was escrowed for communty projects.  Unfortunately for McCalla, we are unincorporated and do we really want Jefferson County having control of a settlement like that if we were to get one.  The only complaints they have received, according to this person in the Mayor's office is some noise complaints.  Interestingly she did not say anything about traffic.  The unofficial response from someone in the Austell, GA mayor's office has been that is has been good/bad. 

    I will try to talk with the Mayor next week and see if we can get more specifics.  So far, I haven't been able to determine how negative this hub would be for the whole community or jus some certain areas.  I may try and talk with someone in Harrisburg, PA as well.  They built a hub there in 2000, so perhaps they have a track record to see what the community impact will be. 

Open E-mail to Commissioner Humphreys

The news of Norfolk Southern looking at McCalla as a site for one of the inter-modal hubs has finally hit the news and as expected a group has arisen to resist the efforts.  I got wind of this a month ago when I was made privy to an e-mail that the Land Development Office of Jefferson County sent to County Commissioners. 

My initial response was resistant to the idea and while I probably continue to lean that way, I am undertaking some efforts as time permits to get both sides of the story.  The first step was to e-mail our area's county commissioner, Bobby Humphreys.  I will pass along any response, if I get one, but for the time being, here is the rather quick written e-mail I sent this morning. 

I have had communication with the city of Austell, GA which also have a hub outside of Atlanta, GA.  I will relay what I have found out in another post.  But for now, here is my communication with our Commissioner.

Commissioner Humphreys,

 

As you are aware the recruitment of and the apparent shared interest by, Norfolk Southern, to build an inter-modal hub has now come to light.  As is usually the case in such situations, a lot of emotionally charged rhetoric is being tossed about.  As a resident of the area, I am simply trying to understand the facts and your prompt response is appreciated.  I have the following questions.

 

1)  As commissioner of roads and transportation, how can such a project be sustainable in the area without vast upgrades and support for new and existing roads in the area.  The current roads will be barely sufficient enough for the continued projected residential growth and it is my understanding that there are no plans on improvement to Eastern Valley or other road in the area.   Please comment.

 

 

2)  I have a copy of a memo that Dan Voketz of Land Development e-mailed to you and other commissioners on June 19th, expressing concern and admitting to being unaware of the situation.  Yet, news reports claim that the MDB has been working on the project for 3 years.  I find this amazing.  So my question is how long have you known about this project in your district, if you haven't known for three years why not, why has the resident that comprise this community not been made aware, why is land development unaware of such a massive project and why is the approved comprehensive plan being disregarded.

 

3)  I would like an response to each of the claims by the group No Hub 4 McCalla, which I am sure you are aware of, which include this charges:

·        The hub would deteriorate property values due to 1) noise, 2) 24 hour lighting, 3) smoke from engine and trucks operations.

·        The hub would increase noise and pollution in the area

·        Would increase 18 wheeler traffic by  300,000 per year in the area

·        Would jeopardize wetlands?

·        Would burden the county, which I might add, runs out of money in a couple of weeks, significant costs?

·        And finally and perhaps the charge that garners the most emotional response is that the railroad has the power of eminent domain and will exercise that power to purchase property against the will of the property owner.

 

4)  What do you know about the community impact of area in and around other like Norfolk Southern hubs such as Rutherford in Harrisburg, PA or Austell, GA? Perhaps finding out could dispel growing myths.  I don't mean impact such as a job number, I mean how did it affect the residents, the property values, the quality of life. 

 

This is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate leadership and responsiveness to your constituents.  I look forward to your reply.