Pink Lady Rail Transit Commission

PLRTC Minutes from December 10, 2010 (40 KB)

04/05/11 Minutes (98 KB)

Attendance:

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

Others Present: Jenny Erickson - Sauk County UW Extension, Dick Goddard - LSRHA, Frank Huntington - WisDot Rails, Ken Lucht - WSOR, Ed Geick - City of Baraboo, Andrea Lombard - Dist 14 Supervisor, Gene Dalhoff – SCDC, Jeffrey Lentz – Mid-Continent Railway Museum, Bob Hudack – Seneca Foods, Terry Dersham – Seneca Foods

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

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

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

Approval of Draft Minutes December 7, 2010:
Motion by Rockett seconded by Whitehurst to approve minutes as printed. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s report:
Treasurer Whitehurst reported a balance of $1,653.18 Motion by Geoghegan, seconded by Ellis to approve the report. Motion carried.

Chairman’s report:
 

• Attended WRRTC meetings
• Brief overview of the purpose and mission of the Rail Commission to keep rail service to Reedsburg and to improve communication from shippers and railroad.

WSOR report:
Ken Lucht reported on the equipment maintenance being performed this time of year.

• Maintenance work on line between Madison and Reedsburg.
• Opening up rail corridor, adding new ballast as needed.
• Scheduled to install approx 7,000 new ties on Madison to Reedsburg line.
• Some repairs on Merrimac Bridge.

Capitol Projects:
 

• Replacing 90# rail with welded rail. Milton, Slinger, Waukesha
• No bridge repair projects scheduled for Reedsburg line.
• Potential new rail customer in Reedsburg.
• Some repairs are needed on the track in Baraboo. Local shippers encouraged to contact City of Baraboo to repair before WSOR takes track out service until repairs are made. City has been notified of track concerns. Contact person for shippers will be the city engineer. Baraboo is accepting bids
• WSOR is working with the UP Railroad to extend its current lease for a short term vs. the current 15 year lease.

WisDOT:
Reported by Frank Huntington.

• Reconstruction of rail line in Sheboygan approx $15mm.
• Purchase and rehab rail line in Chippewa County.
• Wis Dot has rec’d applications for funding projects. Some indication of $30mm per year or $60mm per biennium to be released for projects pending approval.
• Badger rail line is moving towards approval of being converted to a public trail. Does not qualify for Federal R to T funding.
• Madison to Reedsburg rail line is still in negotiations. Appraisal of track and land will be ready for DOT review mid-summer. If an agreement is reached between the UP Railroad and DOT, the DOT would pick up 100% of the land cost and 80% of the infrastructure cost. Balance would come from local communities.

Business and Rail usage reports:
 

• Erickson and Dalhoff reported on the recent Economic Impact study for Sauk County. Met with shippers to gather information.
• Completed report was sent out mid-March. 85% of employees who work at rail user companies live in Sauk County.
• PLRTC now has its own link on Sauk County’s website.
  http://www.co.sauk.wi.us/pinklady/pink-lady-rail-transit-commission

Old Business: Rail to Trails update.
 

• Kasper reported that he attended an R to T stakeholders meeting.
• Sauk County Economic Committee made a resolution to the Sauk County Board recommending the State acquire the UP rail line from Madison to Reedsburg. (Resolution 22-11)

New Business:

• Chair Anderson made a suggestion to improve communication between the commission members, shippers and city management. Recommended a meeting at least annually with the communities served by rail in Sauk County. The PLRTC used to conduct meetings in both Baraboo and Reedsburg city management and shippers from that community would attend.

Reedsburg Report:

• Rockett reported that Don Lichte will serve as an interim commissioner on the PLRTC. Mayor Estes asked him to represent Reedsburg as the second appointee.
• Businesses in Reedsburg that use rail are busy.

Baraboo Report:
 

• Ellis reported that R. R Donnelley business is stable. Expected increases from July – Sept. Will be hiring for projects.
• Whitehurst reported business good, stable.

Prairie Du Sac Report:
 

• No report.

Sauk County Report:
 

• Geoghegan reported summary of meeting with United Coop in Rock Springs. Total grain volume from beans, corn and wheat from October to October approx 4MM lbs. A .5MM increase from the previous year.
• Without this local coop, could potentially loose $.50/bushel on grain prices if they have to transport to another grain facility.
• United Cooperative is a strong advocate for rail.

Legislative Comments:
 

• No report.

Public Comments:
 

• N/A

Next meeting date and location:
 

• August 2nd, 2011 at 10:00 am. Meeting location West Square Building Room 213.
• Motion to adjourn meeting by Whitehurst, seconded by Geoghegan

Adjourned at 11:30 pm

Doug Rockett, recording