Public Transportation- House

Handed out over the next next what next okay next week okay you may proceed to hear the staff meeting just a friend the representative Jeff Wardlaw district a soprano or my of amendment from the Senate total agreed upon and would appreciate a good concurrence vote okay any questions from committee. What will of committee. President spring you're recognized. Have do pass any discussion all in favor say aye any oppose same accent hearing then congratulations you pass all right Mister chairman if you'd indulge me I want to bring a few people table Larry and Jeff are we going before we have with the student next bill is that what you want me to do yeah I have a five without objection we're going down since he's at the table in here house bill sixteen seventy four so would bring your witnesses and may proceed. Mr I'll let the witnesses introduce yourself before I start with the bill. Good morning Mr Mr chairman members of the committee my name is Larry Barker also on the executive director of the Arkansas timber producers association which is an association that represents the lawyer and former produce and state of Arkansas and we're here to support this bill thank you Jeff. Good morning Mr chairman Jeff Biggerstaff major Arkansas highway police. Medsafe Mr Committee I promise I'm not here to take the beating I took a few weeks ago. Okay committee we got a hand that going down for those of you that are not sure about what kind of equipment we're talking about for years to some of you live in timber company know exactly what we're talking about some don't but just give you an idea what we're talking about I'm sorry go ahead so submitted a couple years ago we adjourned session and all my way home from that adjournment of literally got a phone call from a lawyer they got pulled over with the Skinner that he had just purchased and he got away take. It is wait take it was for ninety one thousand pounds and he was only allowed to haul eighty thousand pounds on that little boy. The loggers run their exception that they they get a with exemption today for all the we if they want to haul. But not await exemption and under good reason we don't give them that way exemption and that's because we have bridge issues all over the state of Arkansas and when you put that type of weight on bridges you can have collapses. So they didn't know the permit process because they've never had to do it and this equipment's gotten heavier and heavier and heavier and as we went on in time because it's got more more efficient which means quickness gotten bigger and they never worried about it like I said because they had that with exemption. So they contacted me and I want to know if I get some help with the highway police and I called chief J. at that time and he said sure we'll work on the bill but it'll be two years. So we've been two years down the road and I would have to say I have to commend our highway department those guys have came to South Arkansas we've measured we've way we've measured we've way we've done it twice over time of before Jay had his accident you guys need keep chief J. in your prayers he had an accident of a few months back and he's still in recovery at this moment before the accident he way and then after his accident the major and I got a team together and we wait on a Friday so even when we were all from here that day we were still working all day in the cold we and it was freezing cold that day and we waited Quitman that's where these pictures came from with another thing we learned that day was is our loaders and our loaders are made at the factory on their own trailer are also overweight and we found a third been some tickets written on loaders. So what this bill does is allows them to get annual permits the still have to get a permit and they still have to look at bridges they still have to look at everything but they're able to do it in the annual permit so that all year that lawyer can move their equipment to and from different jobs which is about ten to fifteen times per year. And they don't have to call the highway department every time they move now you ask yourself why do they not have to do that like everyone else what a problem logging. Is that a lot of times you're in areas that don't have phone service don't have internet you have no way of making those calls and receiving those maps in those key route areas so we did in this bill if you follow down to the bill to Vicky short bill it very and we give the highway department the right to write the rules they're going to write those rules so that those bridges get explained in a very easy way to those lawyers in the different regions throughout the state aware they can and they cannot cannot. Carry this heavy equipment so that we don't take risks to any of our bridges. Mr with that I'll take questions I brought the witnesses for questions they don't have to be labor anytime. Where's your committee. President branch recognized. After this goes into effect if if the rules identify pass into allowing committee decides to go down that path and cause damage to a bridge how is that I was a statement hold on repair those projects under today statute is a criminal it's under criminal statute for going across low a bridge so they get called on that bridge there is a criminal path that they go down to recoup that. Thank you representantes you have a question. I thank the chair and representative. Of. Is our department was Sir positional I know they were opposed to the other bills that before the I guess same bill here that she's used the amendment is that correct no it's not same bill is not signed by not saying not to ninety thousand pound no Sir Clark coming a little late so this bill is a hundred four thousand pounds and I would upon road doing very much in support. Okay they are in support or okay five in this is coverages log trucks as a for not log trucks this only covers a low voice and the taking the technical term is local is it only covers them moving their equipment from job to job. Okay. Mr chairman one one follow up and and and of course you know representative you not tell when you visited the other bill and Page appreciate a little guide for me on this you know I've got a real issue with with making a difference in what the some people can Hall of what some people can't I think it's you know I like to see a good pair of a playing field for everybody and you know and I and I've as I've alluded before you know as Paul vehicles or held is seventy three thousand two hundred pounds and and so I'm just trying to get a understanding of of wine. We can do this for some but but then others are left findings you seem like its I don't know just got a problem with the it seems like just a little bit unfair to certain groups privilege Christian so where did go ahead this bill is not an exemption for anything this bill allows them to buy a permit to all that weight so you're not getting an exemption for anything in this bill like the previous bill the previous bill is an exemption for five thousand more pounds on logs this bill right now if you're moving a piece of of. A asphalt laying machine which is over with an overweight you would have to call in that day you get a permit and they give you a route to travel that permit the loggers but doing the same thing the problem with the lawyers is they don't have phone service and internet because they're they're in the middle of the woods and not not on the main highway not not anywhere close to civilization so we're giving them the ability to get this permit once a year in a region that outlaws those routes. To to to go to move forward those asphalt machines not asphalt the machines that lay the asphalt most of the time or on a main highway with civilization with phone service with internet capabilities were smart phone and they're able to call in and get around and to get a permit for day use so that's all this bill does is not an exemption it doesn't give them a leg up it's still required to get a permit they just get it once a year instead of every time they move. Share guide for more questions please. Correct okay I understand what you're saying that it was cleared up so if I've got if I've got and follow all or not not equipment Peter Hall in this fall. Can they to the would this apply them to it it doesn't apply to material at all it's only the equipment so this this only applies to logging equipment that used to harvest logs not the law just say not the law okay says. Next on the list to represent feeling you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman road in the wall of I got some some timber that and Timbuktu. As way back often and I need that timber cut and so you're telling me that this weird man will not be allowed to. Go that often and get that time of. It's allowed but right now they have to get a single day permit. And what this bill would do is allow that longer to get a one year permit so that anytime throughout the year they can move to go get your logs and ten but to. Thank you Sir okay next so this representative I. Thank you thank you Mr chairman. This way I understand this is You're not taught by Dr going on a long long way probably. Right. Typically not not that far okay typically less than a hundred miles but you don't have any choice it's got to go from one place the next Senate run will one of the lawyers code Jeff and I let him say it one longer stated right now we're doing our job we're doing it illegally we want to do our job legally they want to be able to move their equipment with the assurance that they're moving it legally and if they're in the ten book two right now and I have no phone service they're not able to obtain that permit so they're moving that equipment illegally. So what this would do is allow them to do it while they're at their office and it's good for the whole year so they can move that equipment anytime they need to to get to the job to harvest that timber. VOL three four. Well jail it looks like that there's no choice here because once once of an area of trees is actually you've you've cut that you you know all you can cut in that area that equipment is gonna be moved to another place to cut more trees is that not right that is true okay thank you Sir representative Christiansen you're recognized. Thank you Mr motion of property on. Okay next on the list representative Barker. Thank you Mr chair so is it safe to say that the highway department is so. Pro this bill because it's more efficient for them on their side as well as on the long side since you don't have to do this every single time yes ma'am thank you. Next. Next on the list represent branch you're back in the queue. Thank you Mister chair I think represent Barker probably what's actually answer my question when is a thought was I get a cell phone service but that would that would indicate that it's a spur of the moment request to move equipment sometimes it is okay with that is that more the norm than saying Hey I'm gonna finish this out we got an order in two weeks to go over there so I've got two weeks to go back to my desk go back to my home. Make the request to get the route finished the job when I'm I'm set up process for a window but set a I called you two weeks ago tomorrow the day a movement a lot of times when you move to that track you get there you saying the cut machining out to cut that's usually the first piece of equipment to move to a a tract I did not send you guys a picture of a cutting machine around but you got a scanner loader when I cut machine goes out on the track if it becomes too wet so what they do is they take the logs economy laying down to go over the log to keep from having roots but if it's too wet for a long hold that's cut cut machine so you're breaking the logs that point they pull out well that cannot be planned for of a lot of times when you check the track you think it's hard enough you get out there and it's actually soft on the sides of the hill side to deals usually saw for any other part and everybody goes wine that's because that's where the water runs out of the hills so when you find that out you have to move. So that's not a plan for move a lot of times of timber companies are as landowners and ten but to have another track that you can move over to until that one dries so no Sir not most of the time this is not a planned activity it is spare of the moment move so that you can keep those workers work and keep them off on employment and keep things moving. Represent Watson you're recognized thank you Mr. For the record does a I like sixteen seventy four. For the record second have a like sixteen seven four should have been years ago make sure of the correct the hundred four thousand gross is gonna be the maximum correct that is correct okay I like it. Is more effective is more efficient. The public does not know what happens. If they move should be made on the weekend. I used to have Terry nannies number in my brain from the permit department Little Rock that was a busy section major my correct that will cut out a lot of this I hate to say nonessential but that this is a we'll get with the times I just wish payment for today's we would have this like this bill this go forward on it thank you guys and it's coming from a career state wait standards police officer by the way those of you don't know a general very represent very recognized. Thank you Mr chairman and I guess I'm all for the bill but I think what's great about it is the collaborative agreement. Between both parties and working together I know with our Dotson you know there's a lot of lot of work that the representative Wardlaw has been working on with our dot and this is one of those that is is a good thing in this refreshing to see the the agency working with the with industry to make. Make it happen thank you. Thank you Mr. Another question okay I don't see any more questions student's resident feeling you have another question yeah I have a question for the maid and might be of subdivision of this definition of a sermon I will made it who is responsible and move it off the state highway when the. When they finish the and the defendant does job. Well so typically sometimes when we do it that when I say we as an R. dot of but typically if we can find out who's responsible for we come out and discuss it with them and have them clean it off because ultimately they're not supposed to leave any kind of debris or mud or anything like that on highways. I can add to the F. as a former county judge most the time can judges know with Logan being done in their their the county and they required to clean that up also so openness about go down seventy nine Stephen clean the mode off the road that is fiction rain it. That's all I don't see any more questions represent ward are you ready close I'm close Mr okay no one here speak for against the bill. What's will of committee representantes you're recognized as do pass any discussion all in favor say aye any oppose same Lacson hearing none congratulations your bill passes thank you Mr chairman and committee. Thank you president Christiansen you're recognized to run H. B. sixteen fifty seven you may proceed. When an issue self will begin. Thank you Mr chairman committee Craig Christiansen District forty seven. I have a a House bill sixteen fifty seven which should. Be pretty easy build understand. We have state symbols such as our flag our song or flowers. Many states have a something that's in the psyche of nearly every American when we talk about railroads automatically we hear that sound of a steam engine in the distance and we we picture the romance of the rails and the other things. But we have a daughter of the State of Arkansas that resides in pine bluff Arkansas in Jefferson County and that is cotton belt railroad engine number eight nineteen. If you don't have the bill in front of you let me briefly tell you it was built in pine bluff in nineteen forty three she's a war baby a true daughter this state because the people that put her together put their heart and soul into the war effort she was placed in active service on February eighth nineteen forty three. Racked up over a hundred four thousand miles before being replaced by more modern diesel locomotives nineteen fifty five con a bill president Harold mackenzie presented eight nineteen to the city of pine bluff it languished around in Oakland park for a long time in various states of disrepair until some of the people who had built it originally forty years later in nineteen eighty three moved it out of Oakland park form the cotton belt railroad Historical Society and again put their heart and soul into restoring that locomotive to operation and it did so for a long time it's now torn down because of its federally mandated reflow and reconditioning that the required under the border laws. But it's always the Arkansas railroad museum which is where it was born. Come build as you may know of merged with the union Pacific in nineteen ninety six. Cotton Bowl was one of the major role roads that advance the state's growth in economy at one time it boasted the fastest freight train in the United States the bluestreak fast freight and it's Memphis counterpart bluestreak mark nice eight nineteen as part of that tradition of excellence in the state of Arkansas it truly deserves and we have an opportunity for a native daughter that was built and rebuilt and still exist for generations to be ensconced as the state's official steam locomotive Kentucky Tennessee Nevada Pennsylvania other states do have this water on some of their favorite engines and this engine has served the state well and I ask that you support this effort and create the status of the state's official steam engine any questions any questions Committee. Seeing none represent Christian I appreciate a very good vote. Or are you gonna make a motion I'm gonna make that motion. The motion to pass please I have a motion to passing discussion. No one here testify against or for the bill or against the bill I don't be saying when signed up so. All in favor of a do pass say aye. Any oppose same lax and hearing no congratulations your bill passes thank you committee I appreciate it thank you Mr chairman Committee we're kinda in limbo right now own I would say we're probably going to meet Tuesday but I'm not sure I will announce money looking at the agenda now we have bills on deferred into we get some communication worked out on or deferred bills we're not going to meet do we get all of our witnesses trader time straight and all that so but as always if we are going to be Tuesday I will announce it Monday so be sure to pick up any any trash a coffee cups anything you have with the and I don't think there's any other business come before the meeting Committee I thank you for your time