Published: November 17, 2009 09:32 pm      

About 35 benches remain in city without approval

Quiet zone agreement signed with railroad

Ordering Clear Media to remove 11 benches placed in city right-of-ways last week was just the tip of the iceberg for the New Albany Board of Works and Public Safety.

There are approximately 35 benches owned by two other agencies situated on public property that will have to be permitted or removed, board president Matt Denison said Tuesday.

“Anything that’s in the city’s right-of-way has to be approved by the board of public works and safety by city ordinance,” Denison said.

Denison has contacted the two additional groups — who he did not name — requesting they appear before the board in the coming weeks. He said one company is located in Jeffersonville and the other is based out of Cincinnati.

Before the board voted to have Clear Media remove its benches by Dec. 1, Denison criticized the company for not seeking approval from the board before placing the benches.

According to Clear Media’s owner, advertisements were sold for the benches at a cost of $50 a month. Denison said he was particularly angry where some of the benches had been placed, as he stated they were in dangerous locations.

Tuesday, Denison keeping track of what is placed in right-of-ways is part of the plan for enhancing the aesthetic value of New Albany.

“We want people to know that curbside appeal is important and that we’re taking action, starting with downtown and working our way out,” he said.

Within two weeks, the city is expected to install 18 new trash cans at different intersections in New Albany. Denison said new city benches will be placed thereafter.



Agreement signed for quiet zone

The board of works signed an agreement with Norfolk Southern Railroad Co. Tuesday affirming the verbal acknowledgment of a quiet zone between East Fifth and East 15th streets.

The next step will be for Norfolk Southern crews to install warning signals at three railroad crossings along Main Street necessary for the quiet zone to take effect.

Norfolk Southern “expressed it would be at least January before they can get a crew out there,” Denison said.

In the meantime, New Albany will re-submit its notice to establish the quiet zone to the Federal Railroad Administration and Norfolk Southern, Denison said.

After the quiet zone is setup and finalized, trains will be forbidden to blow their whistles in the designated area.