Pink Lady Rail Transit Commission

12/04/12 Minutes (106 KB)

Attendance:

Commissioners present:  Chair Anderson, Vice Chair Ellis, Treasure Whitehurst, Virgil Kasper, John Geoghegan.
Not Present:  Ray Bolton, Doug Rockett, Erik Johnson.

Other present:  Jenny Erickson - Sauk County UWEX, Dick Goddard - LARHA, Ken Lucht - WSOR, Gene Dalhoff - SCDC, Denise Krueger - Teel Plastic,  Ed Brooks -50th Assembly District, Tracy Taggart, Village of Prairie du Sac,  Frank Huntington - WisDOT Rails, Ken Witt - City of Reedsburg, Roger Larson - WisDOT SW District, Marty Krueger -Sauk County Board Chairman, Tom Jackson, Senator Dale Schultz representative.

Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 am by Chair Anderson.  Introduction of visitor’s ad members. 

Certification of open meeting law. 
Meeting was certified as having met the requirements of the Wisconsin Open Meeting Law.

Approval of the agenda:
Motion by Geoghegan, seconded by Whitehurst to approved the printed agenda.  Carried.

Approval of Minutes of August 7, 2012:
Moved by Whitehurst, seconded by Ellis to approve the minutes of August 7, 2012.  Carried.

Treasurer’s report:
Moved by Ellis, seconded by Kasper to approve the treasures report with a balance of $1,540.83.  Carried.

Chairman Report:
At the WRRTC meeting they approved a letter of support to request that $90 million be requested as the rail budget for the 2013-15 budget periods.

WSOR (WATCO) report:
Reported by Ken Lucht.

• Brush cutter is in Baraboo to cut along the Devils Lake area.
• 2,000 ties in the Rock Springs area.
• service was out 5 days to R R Donnelly for 5 days due to broken track in Baraboo Industrial Park.  (Ellis reported that switch were not being made and they were transloading their paper needs.
• lots of bridges are being worked on in the WSOR system.
• 3,000 foot siding to be installed at Milton to enable better passing of traffic.
• applied for a grant to purchase the UP trackage.
• grain shipments are down due to the dry weather.
• 4th unit train of 100 carloads of frack sand moved from Prairie du Chein to Chicago for Texas market.  Expect 25 for 2013.
• system wide financial impact study is being assembled.
• Special Transportation Committee appointed to study long term revenue sources for the DOT.  Presently recommend $3 Million for line purchases and $30 Million for rail budget area (no increase from 2011-2013) 
• Crossing in Baraboo upgraded.
• Watco’s Commitment to Wisconsin Rail Customers, Communities & Statewide Economic Growth; paper was provided to those present. 

WisDOT:
Reported by Frank Huntington.

• $60 Million placed in the budget by Governor for 2013-2015 period.
• no final price for the UP line purchase.  Expect to have before budget is under consideration.  Seems to be solid support for action at this time.
• 25 to 30% of projects are underway and includes 20 bridges.
• February 1 is deadline for new project applications.

Local Reports:
Reedsburg by Ken Witt

• 30 carloads of Frac sand has been shipped from Reedsburg     
• a cold storage operation is looking at possible site; oak logs are being brought in from Michigan; Grede expect to expand use of rail.

Baraboo:
Ellis

• RR Donnelly will be up to full force till at least March.  Concerned by track damage and 50-60 year old Industrial Park rail.   Whitehurst:  Flambeau is not seeing a down turn at this time.

Krueger

• Teel is bringing up new products and see possible rail usage in future.

Prairie du Sac
Taggart

• Are ready to support the UP purchase when time is to do so.

Rock Springs, Greater Sauk County
Geoghegan

• 1,300 grain cars so far in 2012, receive 1 million bu of grain in fall (165,000 one day). 
• Seneca: 20 rail carloads per week of steel, equal to 18 semis per day. 

Sauk County Development
Dalhoff

• Uptick in expansion plans. Under 6% unemployed which is best since November 2008.

Old Business
 

• Need to follow budget process closely.  Motion by Kasper, seconded Geoghegan that a letter of support of the $60 Million be sent to all people that are involved with the process.  Carried.

New Business:
Erickson

• Pleased with the good response received on the State wide rail usage survey.  Being compiled at this time and done shortly.

Election of Officers:
Chairman -Al Anderson
Vice Chairman - Virgil Kasper
Treasure - Dick Whitehurst
Secretary - Doug Rockett

All were elected by unanimous vote of members present. 

WisDOT state wide rail meeting:
Whitehurst & Kasper attended; report giving of highlights and the excellent meeting.

Legislative Comments.
Ed Brooks -support activities and be sure to keep him in the loop.
Tom Jackson -Dale is a supporter and will help when asked.
Marty Krueger - Met with WATCO last week to review plans to increase business.  Can see a more and better involved relationship for our needs.  Local match money for the UP purchase is off of the table for discussion until a firm pricing is able to be provided.

2013 Meeting dates;
April 2, August 6, December 3, all in West Square Building.

Adjourn;
Motion by Ellis, second Geoghegan to adjourn.  Carried

Recorder:  Virgil Kasper