By Rose Hooper
Following last week's packed meeting at Dillsboro town hall, Jon
Schlegel, general manager of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad,
withdrew his request to close a portion of Front Street for the
annual "Day Out with Thomas."
For the past several years, GSMRR has sponsored a visit by Thomas
the Tank Engine, a special locomotive modeled after a character
in a popular children's television show.
In a letter to Mayor Jean Hartbarger, Schlegel said he believed
it was in the best interest of the railroad not to put the town
board in a position to vote on this matter.
However, the town board did vote at its Dec. 1 meeting, and did
not accept Schlegel's withdrawal. Instead, town officials voted
to send him a letter requesting GSMRR, the Dillsboro Merchants Association
board and the town board "sit down together and work this out."
"This is an opportunity for us to reach out. If we don't work
this out, we'll all go down the tubes together," said Hartbarger.
"We have to step out of our 'business box' and look at the
whole picture," said Mary Bumgarner. "We need Thomas the
Tank."
GSMRR had requested that Dillsboro close a section of Front Street,
from Church Street to Depot Street, to vehicle traffic next year
during Thomas's visit July 23-Aug. 2.
Last week Schlegel said that Thomas's current license holders had
requested the extra space to expand the event.
While the majority of business owners voiced their support, several
objected, citing traffic problems with parking and deliveries. |
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