Alexander council says “No” to Quiet Zone

The Alexander City Council has decided to not join the City of Bryant in a request to make the railroad crossing at Brookwood Road a Quiet Zone. The decision came during the regular monthly meeting held November 16.

According to Mayor Paul Mitchell a resident of the Cherry Creek subdivision in Bryant asked the Bryant City Council to make the crossing a Quiet Zone. The subdivision is along Shobe Road west of the crossing. Since the crossing is in Alexander Mitchell was asked if the city would join in the request. Some Alexander aldermen simultaneously asked why someone who wants quiet would buy a house near railroad tracks.

Mitchell explained there’s more to it than just declaring a Quiet Zone. The request would go to the Federal Government and a study would be conducted to see if the crossing meets standards that would allow train engineers to not sound the horn when approaching. He said Bryant is willing to handle all the paper work and legal process and costs involved.

In another matter the council declared the Ward-1 Position-2 seat vacant after receiving the resignation of Alderman Jeffery Watson. He still lives in Alexander but he has moved from Ward-1 into Ward-3.

The mayor is accepting applications from any registered voter living in Ward-1. Whoever is appointed to fill the vacancy will do so until the next election.

The next regular monthly meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held Monday, December 21. The meeting will be at 6 PM in the courtroom in city hall. The public is invited to attend.

This article has been edited since first posted.