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Quiet Zone Tax Levy Not Popular
Galesburg is looking to add quiet zones to throughout the city at the same time many grade separations are planned.

Many residents, especially those living close to rail corridors are in favor of the quiet zones but not how to pay for them.

One proposal brought before the city council would be to increase property taxes on those who live in the "severe impact areas" of the quiet zones even more than residents who are not impacted.

Heather Ocharra lives in the impact area on Prairie Street. She does not believe people like her should have to foot the bill for something the entire town would benefit from.

"This whole concern is characterized as one of only those that happen to be living near the severe impact zone, and on occasion, I've heard remarks such as 'well, you should have known about that when you purchased your home near the railroad tracks,'" Ocharra said. "I would like to remind everyone that many people, such as myself, did purchase their home before the federal government...decided to essentially require that the trains turn up their volume considerably."

A number of city council members agreed and said the cost of the project should be evenly spread out among all residents.

An off the cuff estimate for a one year price of the projects put on all residents would be around $200.
07 20 10 by Newsroom
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