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Marquette County moves to press Union Pacific to repair Glenn Oak railroad crossing
Summary
After two unanswered repair requests, county highway staff presented a resolution requiring Union Pacific to correct a 2–3 inch drop at the County F crossing near the Glenn Oak facility; the committee voted to forward the resolution to executive finance and county boards for formal action and possible referral to the state commissioner if Union Pacific does not act within 30 days.
Marquette County highway staff told the committee that two repair requests to Union Pacific — one submitted last fall and one this spring — produced no response, and presented a resolution asking the railroad to fix a settled, unsafe approach at the County F crossing near the Glenn Oak facility.
"Marquette County hereby requires Union Pacific Railroad pave plank repair change or otherwise improve the crossing as the needs require," the staff presenter said while showing photos of a two- to three-inch drop from the paved approach to the crossing surface. Staff explained that if Union Pacific does not attempt a repair within 30 days of a formal request, the county can ask the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads to compel work.
Committee members discussed repair options and limitations. Staff said the most practicable fix would be to mill the approach pavement and repave to match the crossing elevation, noting that rail companies typically must provide flaggers for work within 25 feet of the track center and that the county’s ability to bill the railroad is unlikely. "We could probably do the work on our dime, but realistically it's something that they should be funding," staff said.
The committee approved a motion to forward the resolution to executive finance and the county board. The resolution, if adopted by the board and not acted on by Union Pacific, would trigger the 30-day escalation process via the state rail commissioner.
Next steps: the committee forwarded the resolution to executive finance for consideration by the full county board; no direct repairs were scheduled at the meeting.
