A rough railroad crossing in Hamlet continues to draw the attention of economic development officials. The town council has been complaining about the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern’s Starke Street crossing for years. Last month, Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver offered to speak to railroad officials, but the town didn’t get an immediate response.
This week, Weaver told council members that he’s still working with the railroad’s parent company, but he needs to get all the details straight. “I’m in communication with the Genesee & Wyoming railroad. They like to know exactly who you had conversation with, so we can pin it down, and I need to verify the absolute nature of the complaint. It’s a rough crossing right?”
“It’s the railroad ties have deteriorated,” Council President Dave Kesvormas said. “They’re using railroad ties between the rails in the crossing. The railroad ties are deteriorating.”
“So at least who I’m talking to says he can get something done,” Weaver replied. “So we’ll see.”
Weaver hopes the Economic Development Foundation will be able to help get the railroad’s attention, and then put them in touch with the town. While council members say the repairs are urgently needed, they are willing to coordinate them with the Starke Street reconstruction project planned for March, if permanent repairs can’t be done sooner.
