Voices: Railroad crossings

June 21, 2009 08:22 pm

— On June 2, the Neosho City Council voted on a referendum to keep railroad crossings open until the South Street overpass is finished, possibly sometime around Sept. 9.
Residents have mobilized and have collected signatures on a petition asking to put this issue to a vote of the citizens of Neosho, as it should be. About 8 percent of the population signed, asking not to close Park Street and Daugherty Road.
That is more than voted in the primary election and only 3 percent less than voted in the spring election. If after all that is said and done, the council still insists on closing the crossings, we may need to have a recall of council members and the city manager — remember this town belongs to all of its residents.
If the council really intends to have an open dialogue with us, then it should listen to the majority of its residents. This did not happen with the 405 code or the railroad closings.
We need to go to precincts or wards where each part of town is really represented. Those voted onto the council would have to live in the precinct or ward where they are elected. We should add two at-large council members for a total of seven and go back to a mayor-council form of city government as before and have people elect the mayor, not the council.
Gene Franklin
Neosho