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Home My WebLink AboutResolution 94-1998 � . RESOLUTION NO. 94-98 WHEREAS the Brookings City Commission desires to do what is best for the City of Brookings. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Brookings is deeply concerned about the quality of life, economic, environmental and safety impact upon its citizens under the actions proposed by DM&E in STB Finance Docket No. 33407 before the Surface Transportation Board, and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Brookings urges the Board to require positive evidence from the Applicant to demonstrate that all safety considerations and economic impact to the citizens of Brookings are reasonably and properly dealt with, and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Brookings encourages the Ad Hoc Committee to continue generating and evaluating evidence relative to STB Finance Docket 33407 and any rulings resulting from this Application. Passed and approved this 25`h day of August, 1998. � Mayor �� <.>°' `<>;s c '�$3 'o ,.;,a,. ��qQ'� Finance Officer Mayo�s Ad Hoc Committee on the Railroad Brookings,South Dakota 57006 August 21, 1998 Honorable Wayne Hauschild Mayor of Brookings City Hall Brookings, SD 57006 Dear Mayor Hauschild and City Commissioners: I want to begin by reminding everyone that Mayor Hauschild's charge to the Ad Hoc Committee was to look at the DM&E proposal reladve as to what best represents the interests of the citizens of Brookings. We recognize that the Cidzens of Brookings include homeowners,renters, students,businesses and industries. We as a committee believe that we are acting to protect the interests of our citizenry. At the August 20, 1998 meeting of the Mayor's Ad Hoc Ra.ilroad Committee,the following resolution was introduced,discussed and passed by a 5 to 2 vote. The purpose of the vote was to ask the Brookings City Commission to convey the Resolution to the Surface Transportation Board before its August 30, 1998 deadline for accepting comments relative to the transportadon phase of the project. It is the belief of the majority of the Ad Hoc Committee that the City of Brookings is in a stronger position to negotiate its desires with the DMBcE and others if it does not support the project undl its goals are met. The City must be in as strong a position as possible to achieve its goals. Therefore the committee believes if must not yield,give away,or fail to exercise opportunides to enhance or protect its rights. We believe the resolution protects our rights at this stage of the discussions. Obviously, if the railroad were to promise the City of Brookings that it would sufficiendy lower the route through town,relocate some housing, and create appropriate sound barriers,or reroute around the city,they would receive the immediate full support of the Ad Hoc Committee. The DM&E has not done that. The five-part resolution that we ask you to convey to the STB by August 30, 1998 is: Resolved that the City of Brookings does not support STB Finance Docket No. 33407. Resolved that the City of Brookings considers insufficient positive evidence has been presented or established to support the project of this applicadon. Resolved this action is taken upon the recommendation of the City of Brookings Ad Hoc Railway Committee. Resolved that the City of Brookings encourages the Ad Hoc committee to continue generating and evaluating evidence relative to STB Finance Docket No. 33407,and to any rulings resulting from this application. Resolved that the City of Brookings reserves the right to revisit this issue as the Ad Hoc Committee continues to evaluate the engineering report,the legal rights study,the economic sub- committee report,and other materials as it develops its final report. I am attaching a copy of a letter from Mr.Fred Seymour to the Ad Hoc Committee that explains how he developed this resolution for our consideradon. I believe that it clearly identifies the concerns and issues that led to the resolution. It should be noted that 2 members of the Ad Hoc Committee believed that this resolution should wait until all information is in and a final report prepared. However,the majority of the committee believed ihe City needed to take a position to protect its interests at this time. We can easily change the resolution later if merited. It is easier to change from opposed to pro,than vice versa. Finally,I believe in discussing this resolution, it is important the everyone try to picture what Brookings will be like 5 or 10 years down the road as a result of the DM&E proposal. If the route is unchanged, what will life in Brookings be like? If the train is trenched or rerouted,then what would life in the community be like? In a sense the real question is the same that political candidates often raise in election campaigns. To paraphrase it,will Brookings be a better place to live 5 or 10 years from now because the DM&E i�.runi►ing 3 trains a day through ow city? Sincerely, � �� Edward Pa Hogan Chair August 1998 DRAFT FOR A BROOKINGS CITY RESOLUTION RE STB FINANCE DOCKET NO. 33407 Resolved that the City of Brookings does not support STB Finance Docket No. 33407. Resolved that the City of Brookings considers insufficient positive evidence has been presented or established to support the project of this application. Resolved this action is taken upon the recommendation of the City of Brookings Ad Hoc Railway Committee. Resolved that the City of Brookings encourages the Ad Hoc committee to continue generating and evaluating evidence relative to STB Finance Docket No. 33407, and to any rulings resulting from this application procedure. Resolved that the City of Brookings reserves the right to revisit this issue. August 18, 1998 , From: Fred Seymour To: The members of the City of Brookings Ad hoc Railway Committee. Appended is a resolution proposed for recommendation by the Ad hoc committee to be sent to the City Commission for action. Let me explain why I believe the city should pass some resolution at this time, and why I favor this position. The process in which the City of Brookings is enmeshed re the DM&E stems from an application submitted to the federal regulatory commission (STB), known as STB Finance Docket No. 33407. There are several odd details to this situation which tend to confuse the issue for Brookings. 1. The application mainly seeks permission for a new build west of Wall SD. 2. The application has a sole reference directly referring to the 600 miles of Iine east of Wall, saying no authority is needed to rebuild this area. 3. However, most of the application actually deals with this 600–mile area. 4. The DM&E has vigorously sought resolutions of support along the old line. 5. A DM&E request for a City of Brookings resolution on this subject (made in rw.bx-�ery; 1998) set in motion events creating our Ad hoc committee. �� — The application procedure has a schedule for the STB to reach decisions. An important deadline is for submission of comments to the Washington office by Au ust 30, 1998. Are "comments" such as city resolutions important in this process? Presumably, as the DM&E has expended great effort to obtain such favorable resolutions. When will the city have another opportunity to effectively submit further comments and/or resolutions to any other regional, state, or federal agency? The DM&E's argument is that this is the last opportunity. [Actually it was possible the last date for meaningful submission was last June 10 -- a position not taken by the STB. ] Why should the city take a negative position relative to this proposal? 1. To a great extent the draft resolution says it all. 2. A negative position can easily, and effectively, be changed in the future. 3. This application has the potential for great social and economic impact on our general region. The city should proceed in a maximally informed way if it is to take a positive position. 4. I view this as a business offer, and such cases normally require a higher informed status to �say yes than to say no. 5. Should the project prove detrimental to our region, the actions of the Ad hoc committee, and of the city commission, will long be remembered. As this project has potential for great impact on our region, the committee and the commission should take some position on this issue. On this basis I submit the resolution for committee consideration. 08/24/1398 10:0� 1-6056924611 HELSPER AND RASMIJSSN PAGE 82 � r r � • �'+MQRANDUM Aatwt Z4, 1998 FROM: Ci'�Y A'�TURNEY,A,LAN F.GLOVER �p: C1TY COMMI33IdN�RS gpg,�L"x': RESOLUI'IONS TO$E FII�D BEP'ORE 5URFACE TR.A�T$PORTATIQN BOARD PRIOR TO AUGUST 3E1, �998 I have revicwcd the letter from�DW,ARD HOGA�1,Chairma�of the Ad�oc Raitroad Committee to the Honorable WAYNE HA.USCHII..D,dated August 21, 1998. t have also re�viewcd tk�e ari�ched copy af a le�t�x�am FRED SEYMOUR to the Ad I-�oc Committa. Xt ia rty impt�ession that the proposed Rcsolutions by t�e Ad Hoc Co�unittee ate pranaturt. i have preparod some altemative�tesolutions,w�buch the Commission may d�sire to uunei�lw At tl�s stugo uf tl�c proa�aiingy. i dc►nM fioliove that it is necoessry for tho City to file ' ordcr to reserve its r� t to e ress�ts concerns an objectioa to the Docket No. 33407�n p Sh XP about the economic and safety impacts uPon the City of Brookings as the project proceeda. I am of the opinion that thase concerns maY be protected by dxpressing out angaing coneern about t�aeam to the Conunittee and emphasizittg that there has be�n insufl'iciettt factual informetion ava�able todate in ardes to make an appropriate assesm�ent of th�prajeot. AFG � ` ,08/24/1998 10:08 1-6056924611 HELSPER AND RASMIJaSN PAGE e3 . RESOLVED,��crrY oF axoo�n.vGs��►�nce�a�t� eca►aomic�nd safety impsct u�on its citizens uacter the adions�ro�osed by DM&E in S'TB Finance Docket No. 33407 before the Su[f�ce Tranisportatioa Board. RE54LVED,tt�t tb�e CiTX OF BROOKINGS ucges the Board to roquue positive avidence from the App6cant ta de�►onsttete that all�afety co�dera�bions and eoonomic impact to the oitizene o��raokings are reasanably and properly dealt with. RESOLVED,thnt the CITY OF BROOKINC�S et�cavrages thc Ad I�oc Committeo to co�n�,�e generating and ev�luading evidence relative to STB k'inance Docket 33407 and any rulings res�iltir�g from this�#pp�cation_ t �