Trash trains back

Trains carrying garbage, construction debris moved to Venice Road tracks after complaints from Depot Street

SANDUSKY

William Payne is sick of the trash trains that litter his front lawn on South Depot Street.

"I don't want them sitting in front of my house," said Payne, who has lived at1216 S. Depot St. for 20 years. "Get considerable amount of trash."

Tires, bottles and scrap metal left behind from trash trains lined the railroad along Depot Street for the last two weeks. In response, 92 Depot Street residents and business owners signed a petition and presented it to the Erie County Commissioners to get Norfolk Southern Railroad to move the trash trains.

"They were lined up full of trash. They were here forever," said Tami Wilson, of 1710 S. Depot St. Wilson signed the petition because the trash was getting unbearable.

Early Saturday morning, the trash trains were moved to tracks running parallel to Venice Road between Blue Chip Machine & Tool LLC and McCartney Road. Despite the relocation of the trains, the trash remains -- and near McCartney Road, the cars sit behind private homes.

Susan Terpay, director of public relations for Norfolk Southern, was unaware the trash trains were causing problems for Sandusky residents.

"We'll look into it to see what we can do about it," Terpay said.

This incident is not the first time trash trains have littered the neighborhood. In June, the city received numerous complaints about trash trains from Follett Street, Sycamore Line and the Venice Road area.

"I thought this problem was cleared up," said Dave Waddington, Sandusky city commissioner. "I don't want it turning into a shell game where they're moved throughout the city."

Waddington surveyed the trains along Depot Street on Friday before they were moved and observed netting flapping loose. The netting is meant to prevent trash from being blown out of the open-topped cars. The cars are transporting construction materials and roadway debris.

"I don't want this stuff blowing off in town," Waddington said. "There has to be a better way to secure it."

Aside from the unsightliness of trash on their lawns, Depot Street residents are concerned with the materials in the trash trains.

"You don't know where it's coming from," Payne said. "Could be full of germs."

"They're telling us it's old debris," Waddington said. "But how do I know? I'm sure if this was in another community the response would be the same. It's a safety issue, No. 1."

Sandusky residents should not be worried about the spread of disease, said Erie County Health Commissioner Peter Schade.

"There's not a whole lot to worry about in terms of germs ad direct contact with trash," Schade said. "My biggest concern is working with the railroad to prevent railroad cars from being stacked up. I don't think it's a good move to have them stacked up near houses. Put those cars somewhere else and get them into the land fill as needed."

Schade is working with Norfolk Southern to try and work out a compromise with where the trash trains are kept.

Waddington plans to bring the petitions and the issue of the trash trains before the commissioners during Monday's meeting.