55th community passes remote control safety resolution
CLEVELAND, May 14 -- South Salt Lake City, Utah, joins 54 other communities in questioning the unregulated use of remote control locomotives.
The resolution, unanimously passed by the South Salt Lake City Council, cites the high volume of toxic substances that pass through the city and in Union Pacific’s Roper Yard as a reason for condemning the remote control operations.
According to Jeff Worthington, First Vice Chairman of the BLET’s Utah State Legislative Board, Brother Mac Hunt of BLET Division 713 (Salt Lake City) was instrumental in the passage of the resolution. Brother Worthington also thanked Walt Webster, BLET Utah State Legislative Board Chairman, and Patrick Whalen, Utah State Legislative Board Secretary-Treasurer, for their help, hard work and support.
In addition to South Salt Lake City, 39 U.S. cities have adopted similar resolutions: Baton Rouge, La.; Detroit, Mich.; Shreveport, La.; Marysville, Mich.; Boston, Mass.; Cleveland, Ohio; Pine Bluff, Ark.; North Little Rock, Ark.; Beardstown, Ill.; Bakersfield, Calif.; Woodbridge, N.J.; Maple Heights, Ohio; Alliance, Neb.; Evansville, Ind.; Dupo, Ill.; Durand, Mich; Flat Rock, Mich.; Woodhaven, Mich; Flint, Mich.; Sparks, Nev.; Commerce, Calif.; Clinton, Iowa; Montebello, Calif.; Saginaw, Mich.; Mankato, Minn.; Wamac, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo.; River Rouge, Mich.; Melvindale, Mich.; Redford Township, Mich.; Irvington, Ill.; Berwyn, Ill.; Allen Park, Mich.; Central City, Ill.; Carteret, N.J.; Toledo, Ohio; San Francisco, Calif.; Houston, Texas; and Janesville, Wisc.
Also, 15 counties have passed similar remote control resolutions. They are: Douglas County, Wisc.; West Baton Rouge Parish, La.; Point Coupee Parish, La.; Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Huron County, Ohio; Erie County, Ohio; Whitley County, Ky.; Unicoi County, Tenn.; Contra Costa County, Calif.; Knox County, Tenn.; Clinton County, Iowa; Harris County, Texas; Roanoke County, Va.; Greenup County, Ky.; and San Francisco County, Calif.
A PDF of the resolution is available at:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/southsaltlake.pdf
Friday, May 14, 2004
bentley@ble.org
