Laserfiche WebLink
ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 22, 1999 <br />*( #3) Regular Council Meeting of November 8, 1999 • <br />Sansevere moved, Peterson seconded, to approve the minutes of the Regular City <br />Council meeting of November 8, 1999, as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br />PARK COMMISSION COMMENTS - Irene Silber, Representative <br />Silber thanked the City Council on behalf of the Parks Commission for acquiring the land in <br />Navarre. Silber also extended thanks to the Public Works Department for cleaning up the <br />Navarre Park. <br />Mayor Jabbour stated that the City of Orono is in the process of doing due diligence on the <br />condition of soils, with the purchase of the land being contingent upon the results. <br />Mayor Jabbour stated he has requested Peter Johnson to appear tonight to speak on the <br />Dakota Rail to Trail project. <br />Peter Johnson stated he is an interested citizen who has been attending the meetings regarding <br />the Dakota Rail to Trail. Johnson stated that the railroad had indicated they were going to <br />discontinue service on the line due to the poor condition of the tracks, which has now been <br />retracted by the railroad due to a commitment by 3M to allow the railroad to transport fuel oil, • <br />which will increase traffic on the railroad line by approximately 60 to 75 carloads per year. <br />Johnson indicated that Mn/DOT has written a letter to the Rail America putting them on notice <br />that if the operations of the railroad cease, they will not be able to retain their interests in the <br />real estate. Johnson commented that there still exists a significant amount of railroad line that is <br />in disrepair, which tends to cause derailments. <br />Mayor Jabbour inquired whether they still have a self - imposed moratorium on hauling of <br />hazardous materials. <br />Johnson stated that the self - imposed moratorium is still in effect, but that the shippers would <br />like the railroad to resume hauling the hazardous materials. <br />Mayor Jabbour inquired whether the fuel oil would be considered a hazardous material. <br />Johnson remarked that he is unsure at this point whether that would be considered a hazardous <br />material by the railroad and is dependent on whether the flash point of the fuel oil is below 200 <br />in order for it to be classified as a hazardous material. <br />Mayor Jabbour stated that the railroad is interested in recouping its investment in the real <br />estate. <br />0 <br />