Normal asks railroad to reimburse town for overtime pay in derailment cleanup

Posted on March 15, 2021
There were no injuries from the derailment or from the fire that happened the following day, according to Town of Normal officials. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

NORMAL – The Town of Normal is hoping local taxpayers will not have to foot the bill for the cost of cleaning up February’s train derailment.

The town government would like Union Pacific Railroad to reimburse taxpayers for about $20,000 in overtime pay that public employees accumulated during the cleanup, said town spokesperson Cathy Oloffson.

She said the town has reached out to Union Pacific, but has not billed the railroad for the expense.

Authorities said 16 train cars derailed February 13 in Uptown Normal, spilling debris and later catching on fire.

No one was hurt, and Oloffson said there was no damage to town property from the derailment.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…