Marc Schulz of the La Crosse County Conservation Alliance said of the trespass issue, \u201cThere is no bigger issue regarding the river.\u201d \u00a0He added that greatests percentage of fatalities on the railroad happen at designated crossings.\u00a0 Schulz said that, \u201cYoung professionals come to western Wisconsin because of its natural resources.\u201d \u00a0He added that, \u201cThis is the people\u2019s land and water.\u201d<\/p>\n
John Wetzel representing the Wildlife Federation said, \u201cWe need more state oversight.\u00a0 Minnesota has done that.\u00a0 He added that this isn\u2019t just a Mississippi River corridor problem saying there are, \u201c. . .hundreds of places in the state where this is a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pat McCabe of De Soto said, \u201cI have property on the other side of the tracks.\u00a0 I will not stop crossing.\u201d \u00a0He added, \u201cI beg you make them (trains) slow down.\u00a0 Who are you going to call? (if there is an accident.)\u201d<\/p>\n
Guy Wolfe of Stoddard representing CARS-Citizens Acting for Rail Safety said, \u201cThere is a public trust doctrine law.\u00a0 We have a right to these waters.\u201d \u00a0He added that he has seen derailed cars on both sides of the tracks on \u201cour property.\u201d \u00a0He urged people to photograph and report issues with the tracks and rail bridges.\u00a0 He said he feels that after reports about decaying rail bridges the railroad started enforcement of the trespass law.\u00a0 He said after letting the permit to repair the Coon Creek bridge at Stoddard expire, the railroad suddenly worked \u201c24-7\u201d to repair it.\u00a0 Wolf added that at least one bridge still in use along the river was built in 1867.\u00a0 He said, \u201cWe can\u2019t afford to let (rail) bridges fail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commissioner Wadhwa replied that, \u201cThe new fast act law requires that we put bridge inspection results on websites.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kirk Holliday of De Soto said that, \u201cBNSF is making threats to the village sewer.\u201d De Soto\u2019s wastewater treatment plant is across the tracks on the river side.\u00a0 He added, \u201cThe government bails them (the railroads) out.\u00a0 They get billions to fix their problems and then they basically hold us hostage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gary Moltert of De Soto told about railroad rolling stock that hauls Bakkum crude and ethanol.\u00a0 He said, \u201cDouble hulled tankers are safer.\u00a0 Canada is being very proactive enforcing this.\u00a0 Here investors have $80 to $90K in old tankers and the government allows them six years to replace them with safer cars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commissioner Wadhwa replied, \u201cWe can\u2019t do anything, but the feds and USDOT can.\u201d He added that, \u201cNew tank cars constructed after 2015 and existing cars must be retrofitted and have an advanced brake system installed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sherry Quamme, representing the Mississippi River Parkway Commission said that, \u201cWe\u2019re concerned with Wisconsin issues for eight counties of the Great River Road . . . we want to see that there is legal pedestrian access . . . additional crossings are not the answer because it requires a large capital investment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mike Collins of the La Crosse Snowmobile Alliance said, \u201cWe purchased a building across the tracks.\u00a0 We asked the railroad for a recreational crossing.\u00a0 We asked them for $6,000.\u201d \u00a0The railroad denied the request.\u00a0 Collins added, \u201cThey said it\u2019s a safety issue.\u00a0 It\u2019s not.\u00a0 It is straight and level for miles.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frank LeMay commented that, \u201cPoint of access changes won\u2019t work because the river changes from day to day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joan Wolfe of Stoddard asked about changing Act 179, \u201cWhat\u2019s the downside?\u00a0 Why wouldn\u2019t the governor want to sign it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Senator Schilling said that, Assembly leader Van Wanggaard didn\u2019t bring up the trespass law change proposed by 96th Assembly District representative Lee Nerison in the Assembly because, \u00a0\u201cGovernor Walker would likely veto it and the Republicans in the legislature don\u2019t want to be put in the position of overriding the governor\u2019s veto.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phillip Hooker of Victory said that the railroad speed limit is too high. \u00a0\u201cIt should be 45 mph max,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Monique Hooker of Victory expressed her concern about being able to do river cleanups, \u201cThe Friends of Pool 9 need to clean along the Mississippi and on the Wisconsin side.\u00a0 Students and volunteers need access to clean up the river banks.\u00a0 We have to look at the environmental issue and put your money where your mouth is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ralph Knutson of De Soto said, \u201cWe need more rail inspections.\u00a0 There is no state accountability – no rail inspectors.\u201d \u00a0He added that, \u201cThe railroad is also interested in having only one person on a train to operate it to save money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commissioner Wadhwa said that, \u201cThe federal safety board is taking comments on fewer crew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senator Shilling added, \u201cThere is a bill in progress to improve emergency preparedness along the railroad and to train first responders to deal with (railroad) emergencies.\u201d<\/p>\n
A larger group attended the 1 PM<\/span><\/span> session at Stoddard. \u00a0More than half a dozen people said they had received trespassing warnings from BNSF officers.\u00a0 The railroad calls it, \u201c a public safety education campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n Vernon County Sheriff John Spears asked those who received warnings if the officers were polite and courteous.\u00a0 They all replied, \u201cNo.\u201d \u00a0Spears who supports a compromise, told the Stoddard crowd that his deputies were not enforcing the law. \u00a0\u201cIf anybody gets arrested, they\u2019re not spending a night in my jail. That\u2019s for sure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Dick Jensen of Stoddard said, \u201cIt\u2019s almost like that railroad track now is a fence.\u201d<\/p>\n Richard Meyer of La Crescent, Minn. \u201c\u201cThis whole situation has damaged the state\u2019s reputation and the railroad\u2019s,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople are furious.\u201d<\/p>\n Mike Widner of Boscobel, \u201cThe only folks who will likely obey the laws are hunters, fishers and trappers.\u201d<\/p>\n Stoddard Village President Kevin Gobel said, \u201cThe enforcement campaign started soon after rail safety groups and the village complained about the condition of BNSF\u2019s bridges.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Marc Schulz of the La Crosse County Conservation Alliance said of the trespass issue, \u201cThere is no bigger issue regarding the river.\u201d \u00a0He added that greatests percentage of fatalities on the railroad happen at designated crossings.\u00a0 Schulz said that, \u201cYoung … Continue reading