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Home My WebLink About03 WRRTC_Minutes_03-07-2025_ApprovedWRRTC MARCH 7, 2025 MEETING MINUTES – Approved 1 Wisconsin River Rail Transit Commission Commission Meeting – Friday March 7, 2025 at 10:00 am 1. 10:00 AM Call to Order – Marty Krueger, Chair 2. Roll Call. Establishment of Quorum – Misty Molzof, Admin Crawford Carl Orr, 1st Vice Chair X Jefferson Mary Roberts Excused Mark Gilberts X John Kannard, Vice Secretary x Tom Cornford X Jeff Smith x Dan Herbst, Alternate Dane Kevin Potter X Rock Dave Homan, 2nd Vice Treasurer x Jeff Huttenburg, Treasurer X Tom Brien x Jim Bolitho x Kevin Stone x Grant David Wiederholt x Sauk Brian Peper x Mike Lieurance Excused Gaile Burchill Excused Robert Scallon, 2nd Vice Chair x Marty Krueger, Chair x Tim McCumber, Alternate Excused Green Harvey Kubly, 1st Vice Treasurer Excused Walworth Al Stanek Excused Larry Kranig Excused Richard Kuhnke, 2nd Vice Secretary Excused Mark Gundlach Excused Allan Polyock x Iowa Charles Anderson, Secretary x Waukesha Rick Beutler, 3rd Vice Treasurer Excused Kate Reimann Excused Richard Morris x Craig Hardy X (10:23) Karl Nilson Excused Commission met quorum. Others present for all or some of the meeting: • Misty Molzof, SWWRPC • Julia Potter, Boardman & Clark • Benjamin Mohlke, WisDOT • Ken Lucht, WSOR • Alan Anderson, Pink Lady RTC • Dan Hauck, SWWRPC • Alyssa Schaefer, SWWRPC • Lisa Stern, WISDOT 3. Action Item. Certification of Meeting’s Public Notice – Noticed by Molzof. o Motion to approve meeting’s public notice – Lieurence/Kubly. Passed Unanimously. 4. Action Item. Approval of Agenda – Prepared by Molzof. o Motion to approve the agenda as posted - Scallon/Kannard. Passed Unanimously. 5. Action Item. Approval of draft January 10, 2025 Meeting Minutes – Prepared by Molzof. o Motion to approve the January 10, 2025 meeting minutes as presented. Brien/Scallon. Passed Unanimously. 6. Updates. Public Comment – Time for public comment may be limited by the Chair. 7. Updates. Announcements by Commissioners Homan reported that Sweeney was thankful for the signed calendar. Former member Russ Podzilni passed away. REPORTS & COMMISSION BUSINESS 8. WRRTC Financial Report – Huttenburg, Treasurer o Motion to approve the December, 2024 and January 2025 Treasurer’s Report as presented and pay invoice to Boardman & Clark in the amount of $1,863.00. Morris/Orr. Passed Unanimously. o Motion to approve December, 2024 year end accrual based financial statement as presented by Molzof. Anderson/Kannard. Passed Unanimously. o Motion to approve Independent Financial Review Definition and Standard Operating Procedure, to be retroactive and effective 1/1/2023, as to not require audits for 2023 and future years. Scallon/Polyock. Passed Unanimously. WRRTC MARCH 7, 2025 MEETING MINUTES – Approved 2 9. Wisconsin & Southern Railroad’s Report on Operations – Lucht, WSOR Lucht reported that Farm City Elevator located in Darien, WI intends to modify and expand existing infrastructure; WSOR submitted a grant for the freight rail preservation program; working with WisDOT to identify projects to be funded for 2025; working on tie replacement from Devils Lake to Reedsburg; working with land owners in the Waukesha subdivision to address trespassing issues; starting rehab projects in the spring, and there are no current impacts from tariffs; car loads declined in 2024 due to grain prices in Chicago; however, WSOR anticipates revenue in 2025 to be better due to growth in Osh Kosh, and United Cooperative in Waupun’s 1st full season of the new soybean processing facility. Lucht to send Bolitho 2025 tie maintenance plan. 10. WisDOT Report – Mohlke – WisDOT. Mohlke reported that last inspection for the Merrimac bridge project 2/19/2025, due to freezing; there should be another inspection report coming this month; a ribbon cutting is expected in Quarter 2 of 2025; Janesville bridge project is moving through preliminary engineering plans and environmental review; and WisDOT is supporting up to $1.2 million for the Darrien Farm City Elevator project. 11. Permits / Licenses The commission was given copies of the permits issued by WisDOT. No action. 12. Walking Iron Trail, Dane County – Huttenburg / Bolitho Huttenburg reported that a majority of the ties have been removed; however, still roughly 2,000 ties to be removed; 15 rails still to be removed, the contractor has not moved passed the first bridge; however, it should be completed by the April WRRTC meeting. Dane County survey work in process on the other side of the river will not be impacted. 13. Rail Work Infrastructure Changes MP50.0, Elkhorn Sub, Darien, WI, Darien Farm City Elevator Build Out Project as Proposed by WSOR – WSOR/WisDOT. o Motion to approve and provide letter of support for Rail Work Infrastructure Changes, MP 50.0, Elkhorn Sub, Darien, WI, Darien Farm City Elevator Build Out Project as Proposed by WSOR, subject to WisDOT and WSOR entering an offer to use agreement. Kannard/Polyock. Passed Unanimously. Lucht stated that Darien Farm City Elevator is seeking to enhance its competitiveness and efficiency in the agricultural market by expanding and improving its infrastructure. The company plans to add 3,000 feet to two existing sidings as part of a $1.3 million project, which it will fully fund. WSOR presented plans for the proposed track expansion, noting that some of the current tracks do not meet the 15-foot track center standard. To move forward, WSOR requires a letter of support from both WRRTC and WisDOT. If and when Darien Farm City Elevator ceases operations, WRRTC would become the default owner of the infrastructure. Additionally, WisDOT will provide WRRTC with an offer to use related facilities. 14. Executive Committee Report/Update – Krueger, Chair Krueger reported that the executive committee met on March 5, 2025 to discuss notification from Iowa County on their intent to pull out of the WRRTC, that was passed by Resolution #10-0225 by Iowa County Board on February 18, 2025. Lucht provided background of the commission, ownership of land, versus infrastructure, lease agreement and partnership with WSOR, funding sources and history, regional economic impact study last done in 2014, and importance of rail and continuous regional transportation systems. Commissioners discussed various funding formulas, importance of updating the economic impact study, and importance of WRRTC Commissioners conversing with, educating, and updating county board members regarding importance of Rail Transportation System and partnership. 15. Administrator’s Report – Molzof, Admin. Misty Molzof will be leaving SWWRPC on March 28th, and will no longer be the administrator of the WRRTC. Molzof expressed her gratitude to the commission for the time she has spent working as administrator. Dan Hauck and Alyssa Schaeffer will share duties as administrators of the three rail transit commissions. 16. Adjournment. o Motion to Adjourn at 11:32 am. Cornford/Polyock. Passed Unanimously.