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PT seeks legal advice for Denton Road trestle
(by Dedra Cordle, Staff Writer - January 27, 2010)
At last month's Pleasant Township Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees unanimously voted in favor of seeking legal council in order to get RailAmerica to cover the cost of repairs for the deteriorating railroad trestle on Denton Road.
"We're going to ask out attorneys for advice on how to handle this situation," stated Chairman Keith Goldhardt during that Dec. 8 meeting.
At the Jan. 26 board of trustees meeting, Goldhardt said they have spoken to their legal council who advised them to "carry forward against the railroad."
He added that their attorneys have sent a letter to RailAmerica informing them of the township's decision to pursue the matter in federal court due to "loss of the use of the railroad" if they do not hear from the railroad company within 10 days of receiving the letter.
"It (the request for repairs) is for the citizen's safety," said Goldhardt.
According to a report from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the inspector noted that the rail line condition is in compliance with Federal Railroad Administration standards (for the class of track), but the condition of the bridge is "heavy spall" with "pieces of concrete that continue to fall on the roadway."
Due to these conditions, the trustees voted to close Denton Road indefinitely in late November.
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