BY ANDY TAYLOR
CHERRYVALE — Voices of protest concerning the proposed closure of county road 6000 north of Cherryvale has prompted the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad to seek another possible location for its rail switch yard.
County commissioners Monday learned that Watco, Inc., the parent company of the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad, had decided to abandon its plans to seek the closure of county road 6000 near U.S. 400 highway and, instead, seek the closure of a seldom-traveled county road one mile south: county road 5800. The decision by Watco to seek an alternate location for the proposed rail yard was made following a public hearing last week in which dozens of people voiced opposition to closing county road 6000 between U.S. 169 highway and the Labette-Montgomery County border.
“Your voices were heard loudly,” said Dan Smith of Watco during Monday’s meeting with the county commission, in which more than one dozen residents from northern Labette and Montgomery counties were present.
The commission plans to hold a public hearing at 9 a.m., Monday, July 13, at county road 5800 and the Labette-Montgomery County line to hear concerns about the proposed closure of that road.
In a letter to the county commission, Pat Cedeno, Watco vice president of marketing, said the rail company was still seeking a site in which to relocate its switch yard, which is now located in the middle of the Cherryvale business district.
“The intention of the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad from the beginning of this process was to find a solution that would dramatically reduce the safety concerns and the traffic delays that currently exist within the city of Cherryvale,” said Cedeno. “The South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad continues to be commmitted to a solution that will work for all parties involved and allow the railroad to provide an economic benefit to the local communities in order for them to continue to grow and thrive both now in and in the future.”
Many of the residents who attended Monday’s meeting shook their head in affirmation and gave thumbs’ up signs when hearing Watco’s plan to propose the closure of county road 5800 instead of county road 6000.
“For now, I think we’re satisfied,” said northern Labette County resident Wanda Newland, who, along with her husband Dale, led a petition drive against the closure of county road 6000. “I think this decision (to close county road 5800) showed that Watco was genuinely interested in hearing our concerns.”
There was some confusion at Monday’s meeting when commissioners agreed to delay a vote on the closure of county road 6000 until they conduct a public hearing concerning the closure of county road 5800. But, if Watco indicated that it would not plan the closure of county road 6000, why did the commission table the matter instead of voting to stop the proceedings on the proposed road closure?
It’s all a matter of the legal process in the arena of road closures, explained commission chairman Tony Fowler.
However, Watco official said they did not intend to revisit the issue of closing county road 6000.
“Our intentions are to go south one mile,” emphasized Smith, repeating it twice so all audience members could understand the company’s plans.
