CLEVELAND, November 17 — Two more communities in the state of Michigan have passed remote control safety resolutions. Melvindale and Redford Township joined 39 other communities in questioning the safety of remote control operations.
On November 5, the Melvindale City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for the Federal Railroad Administration to conduct a review of the safety of remote control. On November 11, the Township of Redford?s Council unanimously passed a similar resolution.
Michigan State Legislative Board Chairman Greg Powell thanked the following people for their assistance in the passage of the Melvindale resolution: Brother Frank Battaglia, Legislative Representative of BLE Division 1 (Detroit); Ray Hernandez, Legislative Representative of BLE Division 831 (Detroit); the BLE members who were involved; and the Melvindale Mayor, City Council and Fire Chief.
Chairman Powell thanked Brother Battaglia again for his work in getting the Redford Township resolution passed. In addition to Battaglia, he thanked the other Legislative Representatives and members in the area for their work. He also thanked Kevin Kelly, the Township Supervisor, and the members of the Township Council for their efforts.
In addition to Melvindale and Redford Township, 28 U.S. cities have adopted similar resolutions: Baton Rouge, La.; Detroit, Mich.; Shreveport, La.; Marysville, Mich.; Boston, Mass.; Cleveland, Ohio; Pine Bluff, Ark.; North Little Rock, Ark.; Beardstown, Ill.; Bakersfield, Calif.; Woodbridge, N.J.; Maple Heights, Ohio; Alliance, Neb.; Evansville, Ind.; Dupo, Ill.; Durand, Mich; Flat Rock, Mich.; Woodhaven, Mich; Flint, Mich.; Sparks, Nev.; Commerce, Calif.; Clinton, Iowa; Montebello, Calif.; Saginaw, Mich.; Mankato, Minn.; Wamac, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo.; and River Rouge, Mich.
Also, 11 counties have passed similar remote control resolutions. They are: Douglas County, Wisc.; West Baton Rouge Parish, La.; Point Coupee Parish, La.; Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Huron County, Ohio; Erie County, Ohio; Whitley County, Ky.; Unicoi County, Tenn.; Contra Costa County, Calif.; Knox County, Tenn.; and Clinton, County, Iowa.
Nine AFL-CIO state federations have also passed remote control resolutions. They are: Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
For a PDF of the Redford Township resolution, click here:
http://www.ble.org/pr/pdf/redford.pdf
For a PDF of the Melvindale resolution, click here:
http://www.ble.org/pr/pdf/melvindale.pdf