Monroe, La., mayor to meet with KCS officials

Monroe, Ld., Mayor Jamie Mayo, District 1 Councilman Jay Marx and city engineer Sinyale Morrison will be in Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 13-14 to meet with Kansas City Southern Railway Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Haverty to discuss multiple local projects, the Monroe News Star reports.

Mayo said he had
requested the meeting through KCS board member and former U.S. Secretary of
Transportation Rodney Slater (under the Clinton Administration). Slater now
works for Patton-Boggs, Monroe’s federal lobbyist.

"We are looking
forward to this opportunity to visit KCS headquarters and meet with CEO Mike
Haverty and other company officials to discuss ongoing and future local
projects, current topics of concern and the possibility of partnering on
special projects," Mayo said. "This is an outstanding opportunity to
strengthen our ties with one of the most powerful industries in this
country."

"Face-to-face
meetings are more productive and this gives us an opportunity to sit down and
discuss projects of interest such as beautification of our closed crossings,
continuing our quiet zone throughout Monroe and the Fourth Street
underpass," Marx said.

Important issues up for
discussion include:

• Downtown quiet zone and
its positive effect on the business climate and possibly extending the zone to
minimize noise levels for local hotels and residences. Examples are  areas near the Holiday Inn and Suites
and the Kansas Lane railroad crossing near Residence Inn at Pecanland Mall.

• Downtown North Fourth
Street railroad crossing underpass.

• Review of recent
railroad crossing closures and possible beautification efforts.

• Partnering to complete
the "Restore the Train" project at Louisiana Purchase Gardens &
Zoo.

• Any other topics of
mutual interest that will benefit the city and region.