Lawrence Township property owner says Norfolk Southern cleanup a bit slow but satisfactory

Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent
·2 min read
Chase Horvath, who lives in the 14000 block of Lawmont Street NW, talks about the trees that were removed from his property to assist with the cleanup from last year's Norfolk Southern train derailment in Lawrence Township.
Chase Horvath, who lives in the 14000 block of Lawmont Street NW, talks about the trees that were removed from his property to assist with the cleanup from last year's Norfolk Southern train derailment in Lawrence Township.

LAWRENCE TWP. – Norfolk Southern has paid about $260,000 for damage the railroad company caused to a North Lawrence Fire Department parking lot last year while cleaning up a local train derailment.

The company had parked heavy equipment in the lot, resulting in damage to the concrete.

"We received a check (last month) from Norfolk Southern to repair the whole parking lot," fire Lt. Brandon Johnston wrote in a July 29 social media post. "At this time, the case is considered closed, and repairs will begin shortly."

A Norfolk Southern train and a semi truck collided at a crossing in the 3700 block of Manchester Avenue NW on Aug. 15, causing the derailment of 19 railcars, some of which came to rest on private property. All the cars were empty, and no one was injured.

Norfolk Southern has paid $260,000 to the North Lawrence Fire Department for damage the railroad company made to the fire department parking lot. Norfolk Southern had parked heavy equipment in the lot to help with the cleanup of a train derailment along Manchester Avenue NW.
Norfolk Southern has paid $260,000 to the North Lawrence Fire Department for damage the railroad company made to the fire department parking lot. Norfolk Southern had parked heavy equipment in the lot to help with the cleanup of a train derailment along Manchester Avenue NW.

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Repairs also have started on part of a baseball field adjacent to the North Lawrence fire station, 4052 Alabama Ave. NW. The field property is owned by Norfolk Southern, but is used by the Tuslaw Junior Baseball Association. A large pile of rocks used for railroad base recently removed from the outfield.

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"The Fire Department will work closely with the (baseball league) to start working on the infield and bring it back up to playing standards," Johnston wrote.

Attempts to reach a representative from Norfolk Southern for this story were not successful.

Norfolk Southern has been under fire since February for a massive train derailment in East Palestine, in which cleanup and damages, along with lawsuits and other costs, have totaled about $803 million, the company reported.

A Lawrence Township resident whose property was affected by the Manchester Avenue derailment last August seems satisfied with Norfolk Southern's local cleanup job.

Chase Horvath, who lives in the 14000 block of Lawmont Street NW, said some trees were taken out in the back of his property so a cleanup crew could access and remove damaged rail cars from the crash site.

"It took them a while to come, but they did clean up (by late November or early December)," he said. "(But) I do wish they would have put some of the trees back."

A pile of railroad ties rests on the tracks behind the home of Lawrence Township resident Chase Horvath. The ties are left over from last year's Norfolk Southern derailment along Manchester Avenue NW.
A pile of railroad ties rests on the tracks behind the home of Lawrence Township resident Chase Horvath. The ties are left over from last year's Norfolk Southern derailment along Manchester Avenue NW.

The only apparent evidence of last year's train accident is a large pile of railroad ties that rests adjacent to Horvath's backyard property along the railroad tracks.

"I'm concerned (about the railroad ties still there) but have no complaints (overall)," he said. "Everything is pretty good."

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Norfolk Southern pays North Lawrence Fire for parking lot repairs