SIDNEY — A Sidney industry that was the target of complaints by a resident concerning truck traffic has agreed to address the problem.
Sidney Mayor Mike Barhorst and 3rd Ward Councilman Ed Hamaker visited Ring Container last week. During the visit, they met with Plant Manager Dane Felver and toured the facility, Barhorst said in a news release. Their visit was prompted by complaints leveled by a Michigan Street resident about the volume of truck traffic that passes his home. The resident aired his complaints at the Dec. 14 City Council meeting.
Barhorst said after he and Hamaker toured the facility, Felver agreed to modify truck traffic. “Following the meeting, Dane agreed that he would request that truck traffic after 10 p.m. be rerouted. I have so advised the individual who made the complaint at last week’s council meeting,” Barhorst said.
“Ring Container is housed in a portion of the former Monarch Machine Tool complex on Oak Avenue,” Barhorst said. “Monarch first began producing lathes at the Oak Avenue location in 1909, when I.H. Thedieck took control of the A.P. Wagner Tool Works in Detroit, Michigan and moved the business to Sidney. At Monarch’s peak, they were Sidney’s largest employer, with more than 2,700 employed. Finished products were shipped by rail and truck.
“Prior to our visit, I also checked with Law Director Jeff Amick. There are no restrictions on vehicular traffic of any sort on any of the streets adjacent to the plant. Having that background and knowing the history helped both Ed and me understand prior to meeting with Ring Container’s management that the company had no obligation to reroute any of the traffic coming to and from the plant.
“I also took some time to observe the traffic that passed along Michigan Street. In the hour that I watched traffic, there were three tractor-trailer rigs that passed that did not stop at Ring Container, but continued on to other businesses in the area.”
“I appreciated Mr. Felver’s willingness to visit with us,” Hamaker said. “While the mayor has visited Ring Container previously, it was my first visit, and I appreciated not only Mr. Felver’s willingness to discuss the trucking issue, but to provide a tour of the manufacturing facility.
“That tour provided me with the opportunity to learn more about Ring Container and their impact on the local economy. It also provided a glimpse of how much manufacturing has changed in the last decade.”
