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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06 WRRTC_Minutes_06-06-2025_Approved (2)WRRTC June 6, 2025 MEETING MINUTES – Approved July 11, 2025 1 Wisconsin River Rail Transit Commission Commission Meeting – Friday June 6, 2025 at 10:00 am 1. 10:00 AM Call to Order – Marty Krueger, Chair 10:00 2. Roll Call. Establishment of Quorum – Admin Crawford Carl Orr, 1st Vice Chair Excused Jefferson Mary Roberts X Mark Gilberts X John Kannard, Vice Secretary X Tom Cornford Excused Jeff Smith X Dan Herbst, Alternate Excused 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 X Gaile Burchill Excused Robert Scallon, 2nd Vice Chair X Marty Krueger, Chair X Tim McCumber, Alternate X Green Harvey Kubly, 1st Vice Treasurer Excused Walworth Al Stanek Excused Larry Kranig Excused Richard Kuhnke, 2nd Vice Secretary X Mark Gundlach Excused Allan Polyock X Iowa Charles Anderson, Secretary X Waukesha Rick Beutler, 3rd Vice Treasurer Excused Kate Reimann X Karl Nilson Excused Craig Hardy X Commission met quorum. Others present for all or some of the meeting: • Scott Edmundson, WisDOT • Ken Lucht, WSOR • Drew Archie, WisDOT • Lisa Stern, WisDOT • Alan Anderson, Pink Lady RTC • Dan Hauck, SWWRPC • Steve Chmielewski, UW Extension 3. Action Item. Certification of Meeting’s Public Notice – Noticed by Admin. Motion to approve meeting’s public notice – Lieurence/Kuhnke. Passed unanimously 4. Action Item. Approval of Agenda – Prepared by Admin. Motion to approve the agenda as posted – Kannard/Potter. Passed unanimously 5. Action Item. Approval of draft May 9, 2025 Meeting Minutes – Prepared by Admin. Motion to approve the May 9, 2025 meeting minutes with amendments to agenda item 14 – Anderson/Kannard. Passed unanimously 6. Updates. Public Comment – Time for public comment may be limited by the Chair. • Pink Lady rail inquired about bridges near Lodi and their construction updates 7. Updates. Announcements by Commissioners Polyock: Inquired within Walworth County to identify what percentage of the county budget WTTRC accounts for 10 minutes estimated | Update and Action Items 8. Update and discussion on litigation regarding City of Baraboo installation of sewer line on bridge B-368 in Baraboo, WI. 8a. Action Item. Consideration of and action on adjourning to closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. sec. 19.85(1)(g), for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel for the Commission who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the Commission with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved as stated under Agenda Item #8. – Krueger, Chair. McCumber/Reiman. Passed unanimously. 8b. Convene in closed session for the purpose stated in the preceding agenda item(s) – Krueger, Chair 10:11 8c. Reconvene in open session. Anderson/Reiman. Passed unanimously. 10:31 WRRTC June 6, 2025 MEETING MINUTES – Approved July 11, 2025 2 REPORTS & COMMISSION BUSINESS 9. Discussion and Possible Action on a Proposal to Update the 2014 Rail Economic Impact Study: Steven C. Chmielewski, UW-Extension Community Development Educator/Waukesha and Jefferson Counties. – Chair Chmielewski presented the revised proposal from UW-Extension for updating the economic impact study. The goal of the study is to enhance the public value of the publicly owned rail system. The findings are anticipated to be shared in 2026. It was noted that the 2014 study was funded by WSOR, with a contribution from the Commission. The 2026 study will be jointly funded by three parties: WSOR (1/3), WRRTC (1/3), and the East Counties Railroad Consortium (1/3). Motion to approve WRRTC’s share of the project cost (one-third, totaling $8,900). Reiman/Anderson. Passed unanimously. 10. WRRTC Financial Report – Treasurer Motion to approve the April 2025 Treasurer’s Report as presented. Scallon/Polyock. Passed unanimously. The Baraboo bridge costs have been fully expended. Motion to hold public hearing for 2026 budget in July. McCumber/Reiman. Passed unanimously. Motion to designate administrators Hauck and Schaeffer to have read only rights on all bank accounts. Kannard/Khunke. Passed unanimously 11. Wisconsin & Southern Railroad’s Report on Operations – Lucht, WSOR WSOR reported that weed control efforts will be conducted along the entire network. The economic impact study is progressing, with completion expected soon. WSOR also noted that Farm City Elevator in Darien is set to break ground this month. The next phase of continuous rail improvement, extending from Wauzeka to Boscobel, is scheduled for completion by the summer of next year. 12. WisDOT Report – Mohlke – WisDOT Stern provided an update on the Merrimac and Janesville bridges. She noted that cleanup work is ongoing at the Merrimac bridge site, with rail installation now underway on the north end of the bridge. A ribbon-cutting event is being planned to mark the completion of this phase. Regarding the Janesville bridge, Stern reported that Union Pacific has shared the bridge plans, and efforts are underway to secure the grant, with hopes to have the grant executed by the end of this year. 13. Permits / Licenses None 14. Review status of Walking Iron Trail, Dane County. – Huttenburg / Bolitho • Huttenburg noted that the final 15 sections of rail have been removed, and that WRRTC no longer needs access. The commission has received an executed copy with all proper signatures. • Motion to disband the committee- McCumber/Smith. Passed unanimously 15. Report on Appearance(s) before Iowa County Board on May 20, 2025 and Iowa Co. Board Action that evening on Resolution 8-0525; Discussion of Possible Future Action – Krueger, Chair; Lucht; Reimann; Anderson • Krueger reported on the appearance before the Iowa County Board on May 20, 2025, during which a motion to indefinitely postpone Resolution 8-0525 was approved by a vote of 11–9. Potter noted that the Commission has received official notice of Iowa County’s intent to withdraw, and unless informed otherwise, the original resolution remains in effect, with a withdrawal date of April 30, 2026. Iowa County is expected to pay its 2026 dues by April 1, 2026. • Anderson inquired whether preliminary results from the Extension study could be made available prior to January 2026. Reimann requested clarification on the current status of the Iowa County resolution that was postponed during the May 20 meeting. Lucht remarked that this would mark the first time a county with active rail infrastructure has sought to withdraw from the Commission, and expressed optimism that WSOR can demonstrate the continued value of membership to Iowa County. Reimann added that she would be willing to serve as a liaison between WRRTC and the Iowa County Board as discussions continue. 16. Adjournment. Motion to Adjourn at 11:26 am. Peper/Gilberts. Passed Unanimously.