BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle
CHERRYVALE — Montgomery County commissioners got an earful of concerns Monday concerning a proposed closure of county road 6000 (also known as 24000 Road or Old U.S. 160 highway) north of Cherryvale.
At issue is a proposal from Watco Inc., the parent company of the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad, to relocate its rail switching yard from downtown Cherryvale to an area outside of Cherryvale. Watco is proposing to move the switch yard to an area bordered by Anderson Road to the east, U.S. 400 highway to the north, U.S. 169 highway to the west, and possibly county road 6000 in Montgomery County to the south. Watco is seeking the closure of county road 6000 to make the project work.
However, many residents in northwest Labette County and northeast Montgomery County have second thoughts about the company’s plans. During a road viewing of the proposed project on Monday morning, the Montgomery County Commission heard numerous concerns from residents who were opposed to the closure of county road 6000. To close that road to east-west traffic would greatly impact residents who use Old U.S. 160 highway to travel to Parsons . . . and it would also endanger farmers who use the road for transporting large equipment.
Wanda Newland, who lives on Chase Road in Labette County, presented a petition bearing the names of more than 600 signatures of area residents who were opposed to the closure of county road 6000. Of those 600 signatures, 302 were from Montgomery County residents while 274 were from Labette County citizens. Her husband, Dale Newland, said he was concerned that the road closure would force farmers to travel U.S. 400 highway.
Farm equipment, even when folded, is large enough that it could impede traffic on U.S. 400 highway. That’s why farmers tend to take U.S. 160 highway because of the fewer vehicles that travel the road, Newland said.
Joe Long, owner of Newton’s Hardware in Cherryvale, said he had lost business because of the frequent blocked crossings in Cherryvale. He said he felt certain that he could have led a petition drive with more than 1,000 signatures of people who wanted the switch area moved out of Cherryvale.
“I don’t care where we move it . . . it’s just got to get out of Cherryvale,” said Long.
Watco’s proposal also calls for the railroad company to pave the segment of Anderson Road from U.S. 400 highway to the intersection of county road 6000 (or 24000 Road) so that travelers to the Parsons Tri-Cities Airport would have a hard-surface roadway to travel on.
However, even if Watco paves that portion of Anderson Road, the long-term maintenance burden rests with Labette County. Labette County commissioner Jack Martin of Parsons said he was concerned with the costs of maintaining another hard-surface road. Even though Anderson Road is a shared border between Labette and Montgomery counties, the portion of road in question is under the maintenance jurisdiction of Labette County.
Doug Fougleman, who lives north of the county road 6000 intersection and operates a cabinet manufacturing business from his home, said he was opposed to the road closure and the paving of Anderson Road.
“It would make cars go 60, 70 or 80 miles per hour down the road,” he said of the paving of Anderson Road. “We have a lot of truck traffic entering and exiting my home, and I think by paving the road would lead to traffic problems.”
Watco has said that as an alternative, the company might consider relocating the rail switch yard to an area in Montgomery County near county road 5800, which is one mile south of the county road 6000/24000 Road junction.
Pat Cedeno, Watco’s vice president of marketing, said the company would consider that option but that the area around county road 5800 was not conducive to switching cars. The current tracks that cross county road 5800 is elevated, thereby forcing any additional tracks to also have an elevated grade.
“Can we do it? Yes, but it would be difficult,” said Cedeno about the possibility of locating the rail yard to county road 5800 in Montgomery County.
Watco had examined the former Edgar Zinc Smelting Company grounds at Cherryvale’s northwest limits but found the site to be too small for a switch yard. Certain areas of the former smelter grounds were also off limits to development. “This is not our first choice or our second choice,” said Cedeno. “Instead, this is our third choice for a switch area. And, we’re at our last hurrah for options.”
The decision to close county road 6000 at the Labette/Montgomery County line rests with the Montgomery County Commission, which is expected to render a decision next Monday, June 22.
In the meantime, Montgomery County commissioners are suggesting that their county counsel confer with the Labette County Commission legal counsel regarding the legalities surrounding the proposed road closure.
However, following Monday’s road viewing, Montgomery County commissioners said the volume of people who have expressed concerns over the proposed road closure would weigh heavily on their decision.
“The people have spoken,” said commissioner Larry McManus.
Robert Bever, Montgomery County director of public works, told commissioners later Monday morning that he had reservations about the closure of county road 6000, simply because of the volume of traffic that now use that road.
And, Tony Fowler, Montgomery County Commission chairman, said he and his fellow commissioners would have a tough call to make next Monday because of the complex issues surrounding the county road 6000.
“It’s going to be tough,” said Fowler.
Earlier at Monday’s road viewing, Mayor John Wright and Cherryvale city administrator Trey Cocking voiced support to relocating the switch yard away from the Cherryvale community.
The Montgomery County Action Council also provided a letter of support, saying that relocating the switch yard would lead to further economic development in the area.
