By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab County will serve as the go-between in constructing
a safe railroad crossing west of Mona.
County commissioners approved the plan, pending a legal
review by David Leavitt, county attorney, providing a clause
be included in the contract to hold the county harmless in
the transaction.
Linn Carlson, subdivision developer, and Brett Ludlow,
Ludlow Engineering and Land Surveying, Nephi, met with
county commissioners to discuss the plan.
"We will give Juab County a check for $5,000 to pay to
Jim Marshal, representing Union Pacific Railroad, to
authorize the railroad to begin engineering on the project,"
said Carlson. "The county would be out no money
whatsoever."
Carlson is in the process of developing a subdivision
known as Sunset Bay. The first phase of the subdivision
allows for 37 homes to be built. However, more than 300 lots
will be available in the long run. Even more may be
available depending on whether or not the subdivision is
incorporated in the future.
She said the county needed to act as liaison between the
railroad company and the subdivision developers because the
railroad refused to work with an independent entity and
would only work with a government organization.
Bob Garrett, county road superintendent, said he was not
aware of the need for the county to act as a liaison because
of the road recently made across the railroad south of
Nephi.
"The requirements were different in that case," he
said.
Union Pacific is under the jurisdiction of the National
Transportation Board, said Leavitt. As such, the rules and
regulations followed are dictated by the federal
government.
It may also be the case, said Robert Steele,
commissioner, that the requirements were different in the
south of Nephi crossing and the west of Mona crossing
because of the difference in circumstances.
"The subdivision developers are being required to put in
a flashing light and signal arm at the crossing," Steele
said.
Carlson said the developers were also straightening out a
bend in the road and were building up the entrance to the
crossing on both sides of the railroad bed. They were having
to build up the ground in order to improve visibility of
those approaching the railroad crossing for safety
reasons.
The county will only authorize the spending of up to
$5,000 for the engineering, said Carlson.
"I'm sure these requirements are being imposed because we
are a subdivision," she said. "All we are looking for is a
letter from the county commission authorizing the money be
transferred and the engineering of the crossing be allowed
to begin."
Once the engineering is completed, said Carlson, the
developers will need to bond in order to complete the road
improvement and railroad safety equipment installation.
"The Orlando Jerez, chief engineer and liaison between
the engineers and the railroad, told me the engineering
phase of the project would take approximately one year,"
said Carlson. "We will have to have stop signs placed at the
crossing in the interim."
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