The Observation Deck

I guess we have no control over the amount of railroad traffic going through the city but I can say that I have officially become annoyed by it. I've already been made late twice this week by trains rolling thru at 7:45 am. You aren't simply delayed waiting for the train, a backup of vehicles is also caused, which means that you'll need two cycles to get through the next light you come to.

Seems like they could schedule those things to leave before or after the morning rush hour. Maybe they don't originate in Cleveland.

Solstice Steps! Haven't you seen the Solstice Steps?

But we live by the lake! Aren't we lucky?

Bridget Conant wrote:But we live by the lake! Aren't we lucky?

We got 5 acres in DowntowN Lakewood to develop, Mayor's friends got millions and millions.

Actually it is a wild wonderful story. Some of it based on rumors(not really) Congressman Dennis Kucinich worked hard at reducing train traffic going through Lakewood. In the old days it was every hour or so. After a long battle, he struck a deal for speed, and train limits which saw it fall to 4 a day. Mayor Summers a lifelong democrat, is rumored to have changed to Democrat in an effort to help defeat Kucinich in a primary. Thought being, Republicans were never able to defeat him straight up, let's stop him before the election.

Fast forward to current times. Shortly after Kucinich lost this primary, it was announced train traffic would increase. It is noted here on the Deck. Summers was unopposed to the traffic. So I went back and dug around to get some facts. Well the fact is that Congressman Kucinich's agreement was for 20 or less a day. It was actually the economy, and switch in rails used that had slowed down train traffic.

Go figure politicians taking credit for things they didn't really do.

.

Some days I dream of Utopia, but then I realize that Utopia does not exist in reality.

I would like to control when cool ships pass by so I can ride to the lake and see them. Or when a nice airplane or helicopter passes by so I can point it out to my kids. Lately it seems I can control when deer come to my yard...and even bring their children. It has become a daily thing now.

And yet we have someone who spent over $450,000 for a house on Merl that sits back 60 feet from the tracks!!

They are still carrying flammable and toxic materials through Lakewood in large quantities. I am still waiting for the fire marshall to get back to me about the evacuation plan since September 2014. The other day, there were several tankers with skull and crossbones placards on them. My nephew in Homeland Security said this is public information unless it deals specifically with responding to terrorism or a threat of terrorism.

Lots of trains are a sign of a good economy.

But what else would I expect from the Complainer Deck?

I was also told my by nephew in Homeland Security that in case of a train derailment, to run toward the wind, not away. I believe the danger zone is typically 1/2 mile, although it depends on the chemical spilled.

Lori the Fire Marshal did get back to you. The evacuation plan is not a public record under ORC 149.433

Fire Chief Gilman

I'm not understanding why an evacuation plan is not a public record. If we (residents) ever needed to evacuate, shouldn't we have some idea what we are supposed to do? Shouldn't that information be made available or, at the least, shouldn't we be told where to gather to get directions on how to leave the area and by which route?

Have we ever been given any information about evacuation meeting points, routes, or procedures?

Bridget Conant wrote:Fire Chief Gilman

I'm not understanding why an evacuation plan is not a public record. If we (residents) ever needed to evacuate, shouldn't we have some idea what we are supposed to do? Shouldn't that information be made available or, at the least, shouldn't we be told where to gather to get directions on how to leave the area and by which route?

Have we ever been given any information about evacuation meeting points, routes, or procedures?

149.433 Exempting security and infrastructure records.

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Act of terrorism" has the same meaning as in section 2909.21 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Infrastructure record" means any record that discloses the configuration of a public office's or chartered nonpublic school's critical systems including, but not limited to, communication, computer, electrical, mechanical, ventilation, water, and plumbing systems, security codes, or the infrastructure or structural configuration of the building in which a public office or chartered nonpublic school is located. "Infrastructure record" does not mean a simple floor plan that discloses only the spatial relationship of components of a public office or chartered nonpublic school or the building in which a public office or chartered nonpublic school is located.

(3) "Security record" means any of the following:

(a) Any record that contains information directly used for protecting or maintaining the security of a public office against attack, interference, or sabotage;

(b) Any record assembled, prepared, or maintained by a public office or public body to prevent, mitigate, or respond to acts of terrorism, including any of the following:

(i) Those portions of records containing specific and unique vulnerability assessments or specific and unique response plans either of which is intended to prevent or mitigate acts of terrorism, and communication codes or deployment plans of law enforcement or emergency response personnel;

(ii) Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records shared by federal and international law enforcement agencies with state and local law enforcement and public safety agencies;

(iii) National security records classified under federal executive order and not subject to public disclosure under federal law that are shared by federal agencies, and other records related to national security briefings to assist state and local government with domestic preparedness for acts of terrorism.

(c) An emergency management plan adopted pursuant to section 3313.536 of the Revised Code.

(B) A record kept by a public office that is a security record or an infrastructure record is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code and is not subject to mandatory release or disclosure under that section.

(C) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, disclosure by a public office, public employee, chartered nonpublic school, or chartered nonpublic school employee of a security record or infrastructure record that is necessary for construction, renovation, or remodeling work on any public building or project or chartered nonpublic school does not constitute public disclosure for purposes of waiving division (B) of this section and does not result in that record becoming a public record for purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 487, §1, eff. 9/17/2014.

Effective Date: 05-15-2002; 09-28-2006

It is classified as a security record. If there were a terrorist attack and the evacuation routes were posted further attacks could occur along the escape routes or the escape routes could be blocked. Also each situation needs to be evaluated and the degree of hazard determined. In some instances a shelter in place is the best option in other there could be an evacuation radius which could go from one or two houses along the tracks to several thousand feet. There are cases where evacuations have lead to deaths and injuries to the public. Each situation needs to be evaluated to determine the degree of risk to the public. We have done tabletop drills planning for railroad and other types of emergency events.

An emergency management plan adopted pursuant to
R.C. 3313.536 appears to deal with schools. I see nothing in this law relating to train derailments or accidents. In addition, attack, interferance, or sabotage would indicate to me an actual attack with malicious or terroristic intent, not a pure accident. Therefore, calling this a security record is a major stretch.

Scott,

Interesting. I went through my e-mails back several years and saw nothing from anyone at the Lakewood Fire Department. Maybe it didn't go through. The fire marshall should still have his e-mails. Could you post a copy of his e-mail back to me (the real one)? This email should be public record.

I will be seeing my nephew soon and I will ask him more details on this. He previously was in charge of FEMA for the Columbia, SC area and one of his specialties was terrorism. He is now in charge of security for all federal properties in southern Ohio. I will speak with him and see if I can gather the information that should have been disseminated by city hall. Believe it or not, he knows his stuff. He is often sent nationwide to deal with terrorism, disasters, and rioting. He will also have a role in security for the convention.

Stay tuned.

Lots of trains are a sign of a good economy.

But what else would I expect from the Complainer Deck?

Look - I've been driving from the south of Lakewood to LCA every school day for the last 4 years. It don't think I ever saw a train until the last couple weeks. And now north/south passage has been blocked at 7:45 every day this week. I didn't say I want the trains to stop, I said they are a nuisance. If this continues in the fall, I'll just start dropping my daughter off 20 minutes before the bell so that I don't get caught.

Some days I dream of Utopia, but then I realize that Utopia does not exist in reality. I would like to control when cool ships pass by so I can ride to the lake and see them.

Corey, that's funny. But I didn't ask anyone to step in and dictate when the train comes through. Though, there are FOR SURE organizations/people who influence when those trains run.