Pink Lady Rail Transit Commission

12/06/11 Minutes (101 KB)

Attendance:

Commissioners Present: Chair Anderson, Treasurer Whitehurst, Secretary Rockett, John Geoghegan, Virgil Kasper, Vice Chair Ellis
Not present: Ray Bolton.

Others Present: Jen Erickson - Sauk County UWEX, Dick Goddard - LSRHA, Frank Huntington - WDot Rails, Roger Larson -WDOT Southern Region, Ken Lucht - WSOR, Tom Pinion - City of Baraboo, Gene Dalhoff – SCDC, Debra Bauer – Baraboo C of C, Patrick Cannon- Baraboo CDA, Robert Ristow, Ed Geick- City of Baraboo, Ed Brooks – 50th Assembly Dist, Alan Wildman – Village of PDS., Tom Jackson – Office of Senator Dale Schultz.

Call to order:
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 am by Chair Anderson. Introduction of attendees.

Certification of open meeting law.
Meeting was certified as having met the requirements of the Wisconsin Open Meeting Law.  Quorum present. Motion by Rockett, seconded by Whitehurst. Motion carried.

Approval of Agenda.
Motion by Kasper, seconded by Geoghegan to approve agenda as printed.  Motion carried.

Approval of Draft Minutes Aug 2nd, 2011.
Motion by Kasper, seconded by Ellis to approve August minutes as printed.  Motion carried.

Treasurer’s report.
Treasurer Whitehurst reported that funds for PLRTC commissioners from the cities and villages represented have been received. Reporting a balance of $2,423.04. Motion by Geoghegan, seconded by Rockett to approve the report.  Motion carried.

Chairman’s report.

• Discussion on the State purchasing the rail line. Estimated appraisal of the property is ≈ $41mm and ≈ $8-10mm for the track.
• Hand out of the letter relating to meeting with DOT and response letter from the Secretary of Transportation.
• Attended the WRRTC meeting and State Freight rail conference in November.
• Encouraging the State to be proactive in purchasing the Madison to Reedsburg line.

WSOR report.
Reported by Ken Lucht.

• Maintenance work
• Maintenance on the line up to Reedsburg including bridge repairs.
• Weed spraying in the spring, preventative maint on equipment.
• Capital Projects:
  • Installing a rail siding between Milton and Janesville.
  • Plans to replace 10,000 ties between Lodi and Reedsburg.
  • Overall business in Sauk County is good.
• Miscellaneous:
  • Grede in Reedsburg reorganizing and looking at using rail.
  • WSOR sold controlling portion of Company to WATCO. Bill Gardner remaining as President.
  • WATCO looking at better utilization of equipment.
  • WATCO should assume all operating agreements with commissioners.

WisDot
Reported by Frank Huntington.

• Comment on WATCO purchase of WSOR that most of Wisconsin’s regional railroads are mostly owned by out of state company’s
• Continuing to move on the UP acquisition. Nothing to report on the land or the track.
• Applications due in Feb for Grants. $15mm per biennium available for grant projects.
• Buying the UP rail line would have higher priority if it was abandoned as service is still being continued.
• Recommend that an acquiring commitment from local officials for matching funds would have a positive effect.
• Approx match from the Counties to purchase the rail line from UP is about 1/3 vs. the State 2/3rds.
• At some point the Merrimac Bridge will need repairs. Ok for now.

Local Reports

Reedsburg Report:

• Rockett reported conversation with the Mayor regarding the second appointee to represent Reedsburg.
• Grede’s are considering going back to rail for raw materials.
• Primex Plastics business is stable.
• Updated contact list for the rail commission members.

Baraboo Report.

• Ellis reported RR Donnelly very busy; speculate that will remain thru April.
• Whitehurst reported Flambeau busy. Expected to continue.

Prairie Du Sac Report.

• Bolton absent. Reported by Alan Wildman. Some infrastructure repairs on roads, storm drains, etc.

Sauk County Report.

• Geoghegan reported that grain hauling is good. 27 out of 37 cars are hauling grain.

Sauk County Development.

• Dalhoff reported that the unemployment rate is at 6.5% for the period of Aug – Oct.  Is expected to increase as some are employed at seasonal businesses.
• There is some stability in employment numbers being reported.

Business and Rail usage reports.

Old Business:

• Reiterating the importance of the County’s involvement encouraging the State’s partial purchase of the rail line.

New Business:

• Kasper made a motion to re-elect all Commission members in the current positions. Geoghegan seconded the move. Motion carried.
• Dane County UW Extension working on a detailed study on the importance of rail.
• Rail Impact study was compiled for Dane County business associated with rail. Not as detailed as the Sauk County report.

Legislative Comments. 

• Representative Ed Brooks commented that there is a strong need for urgency to move forward with the State purchase of the rail. This would allow the Rails to Trails projects to move forward.
• Tom Jackson reported for Senator Schultz that the Senator approves of the rail purchase by the State.

Public Comments. 

• Question was raised if the Merrimac bridge cost was included in the rail purchase. Answer is yes.
• Reiterated the importance of rail and costs if businesses move or switch to trucks.

2012 meeting dates and location.

• Apr 3rd, August 7th, December 4th, 2012 at 10:00 am. Meeting location West Square Building Room 213.
• Motion to adjourn meeting by Ellis, seconded by Rockett. Motioned carried.

Adjourned at 11:15 am

Doug Rockett, recording