Vermilion discusses rail safety

VERMILION — Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer recently provided several updates at a public meeting relating to various city matters. Among the more notable: Ready for railroad disasters The national discussion on rail safety is directly relevant to Vermilion. Vermilion Fire Department Chief William Brown has been fully involved in his department's role in a possible train derailment in Vermilion. Brown actually has a history with such incidents since way before East Palestine in his previous position in Wellington. We are lucky to have him, and we are as ready as we can be as a little city. Yes, 150 to 200 trains a day pass through our downtown according to the county and regional emergency management directors. Rail crossing amendment I, along with other mayors, support state Rep. Joe Miller, of District 53, as he moves to reinstate an amendment in the omnibus bill pertaining to railroad safety. The amendment reads in part: "requires a railroad company to submit an incident report to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio each time it blocks a railroad crossing for more than 5 minutes. (It) imposes a first-degree misdemeanor and a fine on a company that does not submit an incident report when required." Chief selected for command course Vermilion police Chief Hartung has been selected by the Cleveland FBI Office to attend the National Command Course in May in Virginia. This course is targeted to communities with 50 or fewer sworn employees and limited funds. This is a distinction for Chief Hartung, and I'm sure he will elaborate on the course's benefits to Vermilion in the health and safety committee next week. Health department notes I am on the advisory council of the Erie County Health Department. We (recently) had our annual meeting. A reminder: The Erie County Health Department serves Vermilion residents in both Vermilion counties (Erie and Lorain). Points worth noting: • The Erie County Health Department is planning to build a 10-unit mental health intake facility next to the detox center in Sandusky. • The Erie County Health Department has a school-based health center inside Vermilion High School. • The Erie County Health Department will resume providing a school nursing staff for Vermilion Schools after a two-year absence. • Predicted to be the next health scourge, the Erie County Health Department is preparing for nitazine, the new deadly synthetic opioid that is 20 times stronger than fentanyl and being found mixed into most illegal drugs. It promises to be the next greatest threat to public health. New deli coming to town Service director Tony Valerius and I met with the new owners of the old Convenient Food Mart on Liberty Avenue (U.S. 6) at West River Road. They have named their business Sailor Wine & Deli. They will specialize in high-end deli foods, wine, sandwiches and prepared foods, including Indian specialties such as butter chicken. An opening is planned for May 15. No word on what they plan to do with the office to the west. Construction continues on store Construction has resumed on the gas station and convenience store next to the Farm Market and across from Vermilion Shores. Construction will continue through the spring.