West Fargo resident Mark Akers says the blares of passing train horns frequently wake him up as early as 4:30 a.m., about two hours before he usually gets up.
"We have been getting excessive whistle blowings quite a few times" in recent months, he said Friday.
Akers, who lives south of Main Avenue and the tracks that run parallel to its north side, also hears train horns at 5 and 5:15 a.m.
He believes the horns' frequency has increased since February, when Fargo and Moorhead started their quiet zones, which ban trains from sounding their horns and whistles while traveling through both cities' downtown corridors.
On Monday, Akers, a 10-year city resident, will ask the City Commission to consider investigating and implementing a quiet zone.
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"For all the years I've lived here, it hasn't bothered me until recently," he said.
Mayor Rich Mattern said Friday he understands Akers' concerns, but noted a quiet zone would be costly for the city to take on alone.
"To me, it would be difficult (to fund) unless we got some government help," Mattern said. A quiet zone for the city was researched about two years ago and could cost more than $1 million, he said.
Akers said he may start a petition drive to get a quiet zone on a future ballot, pending Monday's outcome.
The costs for the F-M quiet zone, which included adding safety structures such as extra gates and center medians at crossings, was estimated to cost $5 million in Moorhead and $2.5 million in Fargo.
West Fargo commissioners will also consider watering restrictions on Monday.
Public Works Director Barry Johnson is asking city commissioners to ban outdoor watering from noon to 6 p.m. daily and to restrict property owners to watering on select days.
Commissioners have scheduled an executive session after Monday's meeting to discuss a lawsuit filed against the city by Grand Forks, N.D.-based Opp Construction LLC.
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The company filed suit against the city in Cass County District Court alleging the city owes fees for costs associated with a 2003 project on 13th Avenue and Sheyenne Street. Both parties are trying to settle the case out of court.
If you go
- What: West Fargo City Commission meeting
- When: 5:30 p.m. Monday
- Where: City Hall, 800 4th Ave. E.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Benny Polacca at (701) 241-5504
