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Watco offers 2nd location as possible location for railroad switching yard

Montgomery County residents are also voicing their opinion on a proposal that would close what they call a major road.

Many residents waited restlessly in the crowd at Monday's meeting until the county commissioners addressed the issue of closing County Road 6000.

But instead of a decision, Watco officials are asking the commission to hold off until they can look at another site as a possibility.

Watco is trying to move it's railroad switching yard out of Cherryvale to a rural location.

Many residents say County Road 6000 is the only option for many farmers, the Amish, and slower elderly drivers.

Watco says it heard the residents loud and clear and will look one mile south, on County Road 5800.

However, commissioners say that doesn't mean 6000 won't return to the table as the primary option.

1st District Commissioner Tony Fowler says "if they find something devastating down there that's just absolutely a 'no', like a quag, then without trying to build a railroad for them then they will be back and the 6000 viewing might be revisited to have to make a decision."

Commissioner Fowler and Watco say they hope the residents who oppose the 6000 location will just as loudy voice their support for the 5800 site.

Watco looks to move railroad switching yard

Cherryvale, Kansas has long served as the location of Watco's railroad switching yard.  The trains often block traffic for nearly a hour at a time in the town and can pose a safety threat.

Now Watco is trying to relocate and expand its switching yard to a location west of Parsons.

The location originally purposed would close a section of County Road 24,000 in Labette County, also known as County Road 6,000 in Montgomery County.

But many residents are not happy about the location of the proposed road closure.

Resident calls proposed road closing "ridiculous"

At a public meeting Monday morning, over 100 residents shared their opinion on the road closure with the Montgomery County commissioners.

"How ridiculous - how ridiculous to even think of it," says Wanda Newland.  "This used to be the main road.  When they built the new 400 Highway they dedicated this road, they gave it to the counties."

"Of all the room between here and Cherryvale, there has to be a better answer, but they are going to do what they do," says Kenny March.

Residents say they were informed of the road closure by a 8 by 11 inch notice on a stop sign.

Newland and March tell us they feel the county now knows their is opposition to the road being closed.

The proposal is now on hold until the Montgomery County commission's meeting Monday, June 22.

Many of those present at Monday's meeting say they plan to attend the commission meeting.

Paved road an artery for area residents

The road is paved and residents say the Amish, farmers, and slower elderly drivers often use the road instead of the faster, busier Highway 400.

Cherryvale City Manager Trey Cocking says while Watco has to move, there are some legitamate resident concerns about the proposed location.

"Farming's a big business in this state, and we do need to find a way for them to safely move their equipment around," Cocking says.  "And I would hope the railroad and the county looks at that when they work on this problem."

Watco's move important for entire area

"My mind was that we need this for economic development and this is being done without tax abatements at all, with real money and they're not asking for anything," Fowler told us.

He says the relocation is important for the progress of the county, the jobs that the economic development would bring, and the tax base.

By NINA CRISCUOLO