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June 3, 2006
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Why does it take a young girl dying to notice the flaws in the railroads. That I dont get.
Comment by missssssnu — June 4, 2006 @ 3:23 am
hey ray sorry for your loss. That is how it usally works which is a shame. A tragidy like the one you have to face should have never happened if they were doing their job correctly and safely. I really am sorry for you and your family and I hope that you get them to do everything they need to do to make everything done safely for your daughter and every other child out there. sicerely
sheila p.s. you can e-mail back anytime
I’ll get back soon as possible.
Comment by sheila (scott's daughter) — June 9, 2006 @ 7:02 pm
grandmayacko@yahoo.com (my mother in laws) sheila
Comment by Anonymous — June 9, 2006 @ 7:06 pm
THOUGHT EVERYONE WOULD FIND THIS INTERESTING. I HAD EMAILED THE PRESIDENT OF LOMBARD AND THE BOARD
THE DAY OF THE TRUSTEE MEETING. AND I CONFESS, IT WAS I WHOM HE WAS SO ANGRY AT. THE FOLLOWING
EMAILS ARE WHAT TRANSPIRED THAT DAY:
WRITTEN BY DIANA JONES SENT TO VILLAGE OF LOMBARD BOARD
OCTOBER 16, 2006
Here is another reason why there is a strong need for a fence along
the Union Pacific railroad tracks in Lombard/Villa Park.
Yesterday afternoon I witnessed a man walking on the northern most
track headed eastbound. It looked as if he had his hood up and was
looking down at his feet to watch his stepping. I’m sure he was not
paying any attention to the danger that could have been lurking
behind him.
This scenario is just another reason for the need of fencing along
the tracks. Maybe if he had seen a fence in his way he would have
chosen an alternative path to his destination. I know and understand
that if there is a will there is a way. BUT, the fence will be an
active visual and deterrent for children and adults alike to think
twice about using the tracks as a thorough-fare. Most people are not
going to exude the energy to climb a vertical bar fence.
Also, Lombard officials voting against this project better think
about the negative impact it will have on the residents. I have
spoken to so many that openly say “Lombard doesn’t give a #$%@^ about
the people.” or “Certain people (I won’t mention names)are only out
to do what will benefit themselves the most.” plus countless of other
negative comments. Be very careful on how you will vote on this
because Lombard residents’ morale is low and this may have a negative
impact on the villages’ future.
One more thing, if this fence is voted down, think about the HUGE and
CATASTROPHIC impact it will have on the village if AND when another
human life is taken because someone felt the money would be better
spent somewhere else. There will always be a “What if?” at the end
of every fatal story that prints because YOU didn’t think it was
worth the time and funding. I would not want that to be on my mind
when that day occurs.
Please REALLY think of your reasons why we should not have the fence
and compare them to the “What if?” when someone does get hurt again.
We the residents of Lombard/Villa Park residing near these tracks
need to be assured that YOU have done everything possible to keep us
safe.
Thank you
Diana Jones
Lombard, IL
PRESIDENT MUELLER’S RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL.
OCTOBER 16, 2006
DEAR MS. JONES…..Thank you for your e-mail and concern regarding rail safety. I will take issue with you regarding
your comments that “Lombard doesn’t give a etc.” Lombard has been involved in this project from day one. Our Village
Board and staff have listened to the residents and have conducted meetings to review all possible options from a $3m
walkway over the tracks to the current fence which has been recommended by both the Safety and Legal Committee and the
Public Works Committee. The Board will approve the fence at tonights meeting and we hope to see construction within 45
days. It took Wheaton 13 years and Villa Park ??? to address the issue of rail safety. Lombard is moving forward on
our project even though in a recent phone conversation with the President of Villa Park I was advised that they would
not be putting a fence on the south side of the tracks to connect with ours to provide a safe route for children and
adults to cross at Addison Rd. Even though Lombard will construct a fence from Western/Ahrens to Westmore, children
and adults can walk one, two, or three blocks to walk around the fence to cross the tracks. I hope this will not
happen, but I am sure we will see crossings in that area. Thanks again for your concern.
Regards, Bill Mueller,
Lombard Village President…..
—–Carol Bauer/VOL wrote: —–
To: Group_Trustees (Elected Officials)
From: Carol Bauer/VOL
Date: 10/19/2006 11:00AM
cc: William Lichter/VOL@VOL
Subject: Fw: railway fence
MY RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT MUELLER AFTER THE COMMENTS MADE AT THE TRUSTEE MEETING THAT
EVENING OCTOBER 16, 2006
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
THIS IS MY RESPONSE AND DEFENSE TO MR. MUELLER’S ASSUMPTION AND
MISUNDERSTANDING TO MY ORIGINAL EMAIL. MR. MUELLER HAD SPOKEN OUT OF
CONTEXT AND FAILED TO REALIZE THAT THE STATEMENTS I SUPPOSEDLY SAID
WERE IN FACT NOT MY OWN BUT STATEMENTS THAT WERE SAID TO ME IN
GENERAL CONVERSTAIONS DURING THE PETITIONING PROCESS, TALK ON THE
STREET OR COFFEE CLUTCHING. AS WELL AS PEOPLE OPENLY TALKING IN
SPEAK OUT. IT IS NO SECRET THAT YOUR RESIDENTS ARE A LITTLE
FRUSTRATED.
———————–FORWARDED MESSAGE——————————
MR MUELLER:
I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE STAYED TO CHAT IN FACT I REALLY DID TRY
BUT THE MEETING WAS GETTING TO SILLY FOR MY TASTE AND I HAVE TWO
CHILDREN THAT NEED ME MORE TONIGHT.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
SINCE THE START OF THIS PROJECT IN APRIL. IN FACT, IT WAS I THAT HAD
A RAILWAY SAFETY BLOCK PARTY IN JULY. YOU MAY HAVE REMEMBERED BEING
INVITED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF LOMBARD. OFFICER LYONS FROM VILLA PARK
DID THE OPERATION LIFESAVER PRESENTATION AND I WORKED VERY CLOSELY
WITH WES ANDERSON TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PARTY WAGON AND
POPCORN MACHINE. WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM UNION PACIFIC AND METRA
ALONG WITH BOTH POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND MR. SEBBY. THE WHOLE EVENING
WAS A SUCCESS AND IT WAS A COMMUNITY EVENT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD
OF. I ALSO SPENT ENDLESS HOURS PASSING OUT FLIERS DOOR TO DOOR AND
REMINDERS FOR THE SAFETY MEETINGS EVERY MONTH. I ARRANGED HOT MEALS
TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ZUKOWSKI FAMILY SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ONE LESS
THING TO WORRY ABOUT. I EVEN HELPED OUT AT THE CAR WASH THAT THE
DAVIES FAMILY HAD PUT TOGETHER TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE VILLA PARK
FENCING. I WAS ONE OF THOSE RESIDENTS YOU HAD MENTIONED SPEAKING TO
OUTSIDE VILLAGE HALL THE NIGHT VILLA PARK HAD THEIR RAILWAY MEETING.
IN FACT, YOU DISAGREED WITH ME ABOUT HOW VILLA PARK IS GETTING THE
FUNDING TO HOLD THEIR BLITZES AT THE TRAIN STATION EVERY TWO OR THREE
MONTHS. (HUM!)
I’M NOT ONE TO TAKE MUCH CREDIT OR TRY TO SHINE IN THE LIGHT. I
DON’T NEED RECOGNITION FOR MY WORK BECAUSE THE LOOK IN A PERSON’S EYE
IS ENOUGH. I’M JUST A LITTLE PERSON TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR
SOMEONE.
YOU SEE, I DO KNOW THE TIME AND EFFORT LOMBARD HAS PUT INTO THIS
PROJECT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN APART OF IT AS WELL. I WILL BE THE FIRST
PERSON TO DEFEND THE BOARD WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THAT YOU DON’T CARE.
THE FACT REMAINS THAT I WAS NOT TRYING TO CAUSE FRICTION. I WAS
SIMPLY QUOTING WHAT I HAVE HEARD, TO USE AS EXAMPLES OF HOW MUCH
DISTRUST THE RESIDENTS HAVE IN THE SYSTEM. PEOPLE REALLY DO NOT
THINK LOMBARD TRUSTEES ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR BETTER INTEREST.
IT SHOULD NOT COME TO YOU AS A SHOCK. IT IS WRITTEN ALL OVER “SPEAK
OUT.” ALL YOU EVER READ ANYMORE IS THEIR FED UP WITH THE DU PAGE
THEATER PROJECT, WATER BILLS, SQUIRT GUNS AT PARADES, EDUCATION
SYSTEM, TAXES, DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, NON-SMOKING RESTAURANTS, ETC.
WHY GIVE THEM ONE MORE THING TO SAY “SEE, I TOLD YOU SO.”
I HAVE MANY OLDER RESIDENTS THAT HAVE COMMENTED THAT THESE TRACKS
HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THEY WERE KIDS AND LOMBARD OR VILLA PARK
WON’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I EVEN HAD ONE GUY SAY “WE’RE A PART OF
LOMBARD THAT IS FORGOTTEN.” HONESTLY, I HAVE TO AGREE. UP UNTIL
THIS RAILWAY PROJECT WE HARDLY EVER SAW POLICE PATROLLING THE AREA.
WE ARE A FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY. I’M SORRY THAT THAT OFFENDS YOU BUT
THE TRUTH DOES HURT SOMETIMES.
I WAS TOLD BY A RELIABLE SOURCE (SO I THOUGHT) THAT THE DECIDING VOTE
FOR THE FENCE (YES OR NO) WAS TONIGHT. AND YOU MR. MUELLER WAS THE
DECIDING VOTE. MY SOURCE ENCOURAGED EVERYONE TO EMAIL YOU WITH THEIR
COMMENTS AND IDEAS IN HOPES THAT YOU WOULD VOTE YES TO THE PROJECT.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE FENCE WAS APPROVED ALREADY. I HAVE NOT
BEEN TO THE PAST FEW SAFETY MEETINGS SO MY INFO IS THROUGH WORD 0F
MOUTH. THE LAST POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT THE FENCE WILL SET
THE PRECEDENCE FOR THE FUTURE AND WILL HELP ESTABLISH CONFIDENCE IN
THE RESIDENTS. I WILL ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT IF THE FENCE DOES NOT GO
UP THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A “WHAT IF?” THAT’S MY OPINION AND I AM
ENTITLED TO IT.
I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR YOU TOOK IT ANY OTHER WAY THAN HOW IT WAS
INTENDED. I CERTAINLY DID NOT THINK YOU WOULD HONE IN ON THE
NEGATIVE ASPECT. THERE WERE SOME GOOD POINTS THAT I MADE AND I FEEL
VERY STRONG TO DEFEND THEM. AS FOR THE YOUNG MAN ON THE TRACKS, I
DID CALL 911 ON HIM. THE VILLA PARK POLICE WERE DISPATCHED AND
HOPEFULLY GAVE HIM A GOOD SCARE. TRUSTEE TROSS WAS OUT OF LINE TO
ASSUME THAT I LET HIM JUST WALK THE LINE WITH OUT CONCERN. I HAVE
SHOOED MORE CHILDREN OFF THOSE TRACKS THAN I CAN COUNT. I HAVE EVEN
CALLED THE POLICE ON MY OWN NEIGHBORS CHILDREN BECAUSE I CAUGHT THEM
USING THE TRACKS AS A THOROUGH-FARE. I DO NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY AND
WILL CALL WHEN NEED BE. I LOST A CLOSE FRIEND ALMOST 18 YEARS AGO TO
A TRAIN AND THAT MEMORY WILL LIVE ON FOREVER INSIDE ME. IN FACT, MY
HUSBAND AND I ALMOST DID NOT MOVE HERE FOR THE REASON THAT OUR
CHILDREN WOULD HAVE TO GO TO JEFFERSON AND THAT WOULD MEAN CROSSING
THOSE TRACKS. THE WHOLE IDEA SCARES ME.
TRUSTEE TROSS OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER SHOULD NOT ASSUME SO FAST.
SOMETIMES, PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A PHONE RIGHT AWAY, OR THE
SITUATION IS OUT OF THEIR CONTROL AND THEY CAN’T DO ANYTHING. I
COMMEND THE TEACHER FOR EVEN SAYING SOMETHING. HER PHONE CALL JUST
MIGHT INSPIRE HEAVIER PATROLLING.
SO, I HOPE YOU NOW UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS NOT ATTACKING YOU
PERSONALLY. I DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU SO HOW CAN I PAST JUDGMENT.
ALTHOUGH, I HAVE TO ADMIT THE FEW TIMES WE HAVE TALKED YOU WERE A
LITTLE STUFFY, BUT IT’S PROBABLY THE SUIT. I’M SURE THAT DEEP INSIDE
YOU HAVE A GOOD HEART AND MEAN WELL. I BET IF YOU HAVE A FEW
BEEFEATER MARTINI’S YOU’D DANCE A GOOD JIG. (HAHAHA)
HOPE THIS WILL RECTIFY THINGS. PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO THE OTHER
TRUSTEES. AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE STUCK AROUND BUT I NEEDED TO GET
HOME. WOULD HAVE LOVED TO TALK TO YOU IN PERSON.
THANK YOU
DIANA JONES
10/23/06 F.Y.I. MR. MUELLER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY EMAIL.
I WILL POST HIS RESPONSE AS SOON AS I GET ONE.
Comment by diana jones — October 23, 2006 @ 8:20 pm
Hey everyone. Let me say first, my heart goes out to ANYONE involved in a train/car incident. Having said that, I am a conductor with the Union Pacific Railroad and I have to tell you, we can’t stop that train on a dime. One of your posters on here said and I qoute…”A tragidy like the one you have to face should have never happened if they were doing their job correctly and safely.” We are very safe on the rails, we are thought that from day one. I feel for your tragedy, but also remember, the train crew is human too. I don’t know if you know what it is like to see things from where we sit, first off, we are hauling alot…ALOT of tonnage…not easy to stop…second, there is a feeling of helplessness when we see someone going around a gate, tresspassing on the right of way, or whatever the situation may be…the only thing we can do is plug the train and pray. We have families too, daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, mothers, fathers and we pray that they never are exposed to this horror. Once again, I am so saddened by your loss, I will pray for you and yours. May God bless you.
a UP conductor
Comment by SAW — January 6, 2007 @ 2:34 am