Avon Park Trying To Add Sidewalk Near Railroad Crossing

Seemingly everybody in Avon Park is getting involved to protect students and other pedestrians at the CSX railroad crossing at West Pleasant Street.

The sidewalk abruptly ends on the north side of the street, at the CSX property, forcing pedestrians to walk in the roadway.

The city council asked Police Chief Matthew Doughey for help, and Ted Long, public works coordinator, notified the council of the possible cost to add several feet of sidewalk.

In a letter to CSX president Michael Ward, Doughey wrote that he is fully aware of the potentially dangerous crossing since it is just 110 feet away from the police headquarters.

The chief wrote to the CSX president that children walking to and from school at the intersection "heavily travelled by pedestrians" were especially at risk.

The area in need is CSX right of way, and even if the city chose to fund extension of the sidewalk across the tracks, it would first require permission from the railroad company.

Gary Sease, CSX spokesman, said Wednesday, that the railroad company's engineering department has examined the impacted crossing and expects to continue ongoing discussions with the city.

Sease said that it was too early for the company to commit to any funding for the project, and no decision had been made whether to allow the city to supervise construction.

Long presented the council with an estimate for construction at $6,500 to $16,500.

In other news, a dispute between the city and 11 members of the Avon Park Fire Department was heard by city council at Monday's meeting.

Firefighters say they are each owed an additional $45 after being required to work on "emergency standby" the day before Hurricane Fay struck.

Firefighters say they were penalized for working on standby.

Sarah Adelt, city manager, said that in a bid to treat the firefighters equitably with other city workers the firefighters may have already received more pay then agreed to by the terms of the contract.

Mayor Sharon Schuler and council members Joe Wright and Brenda Gray agreed that the city should follow through exclusively on all contract terms.

"In the future, don't pay anybody anything, unless it says so in the contract," said Schuler.

Council asked Adelt to re-examine the issue and present her findings at a future meeting.