We overslept this morning and will post a more complete news digest later in the day. Meanwhile, the Post Bulletin reports Walz hopes new DM&E owner will work with cities:
The proposed purchase of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad earned qualified praise from freshman Democratic Rep. Tim Walz of Mankato, who said he hoped the new owners follow through on pledges to work closely with communities affected by any future Powder River Basin coal project. . . .
. . .He described communications from the company to him and other elected representatives in his 1st Congressional District as "much healthier," compared to DM&E, and said the company could bring needed upgrades to regional rail service.
"We're going to wait and see how this thing plays out, but we are going to be advocates of this," Walz said, speaking of the potential expansion in rail capacity. "We welcome this change. I think it gives a lot of people an opportunity for a fresh start."
Asked is he sees new chances for Rochester and Winona, in particular, to press for mitigation that would alleviate future train traffic through their city centers, Walz said he was hopeful. . . .
DJ Danielson at IDHA reports DM&E Winona historic meeting recap; DM&E officials no show.
A local nursing home administrator writes a LTE to the Mankato Free Press in Walz response correct, incomplete. What's incomplete in the new letter: after differentiating her views on CHAMP from those groups that purchased the ads, the writer touts the Quality First Initiative. And who developed the Quality First Initiative? Why, the groups that bought the ads.
Yesterday's "Notes from the Farmers Union" included this item:
Last week MFU President Doug Peterson joined other members of the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition (which MFU belongs to) for a meeting with Rep. Tim Walz in Mankato to discuss trade issues. Walz indicated that he share our coalitions concerns and opposition to the pending Peru and Panama Free Trade Agreements. For more info check out: http://www.citizenstrade.org/mnfairtrade.php
I attended the STB open house in Winona arriving at 7:30 pm and leaving a 8pm. I was curious who would show up. Approximately 10 names were on the sign-in sheet, including mine. I was told very few people showed up at any of the open houses. I was not concerned the DM&E wasn't there. I was concerned when I was told a Rochester connected woman loaded for bear with testimony for a 'hearing' showed up in South Dakota. When informed the 'hearing' was an open house, she packed up and left. I wonder what she intended to add to the record? And why she chose to do it in South Dakota???
Posted by: Kathy King | September 08, 2007 at 07:36 AM