The end of the line?
County Court seeks answers on shortline railroad between Vale and Ontario
Friday, July 25, 2008 10:02 AM PDT
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| Larry Meyer | Argus Observer
The Oregon Eastern Railroad line was the subject of discussion at the Malheur County Court session Wednesday amid reports the parent company may be considering plans to file for abandonment. Court members signed a letter asking to meet with railroad officials to discuss the railroad. |
Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
VALE
Rumors the parent company of the Oregon Eastern Railroad wants to abandon the railway between Ontario and Vale prompted the Malheur County Court to approve a letter Wednesday expressing its concern about any action to remove the line.
In the letter the court asked Wyoming Colorado Railroad Company for a meeting to discuss the issue.
Wyoming Colorado Railroad Company purchased the line to Burns from the Union Pacific Railroad, and later abandoned all but 21 miles of the line, which still connects to the U.P. main line between Portland and Salt Lake City and other points east.
“We, as a county, have had a representative meet with several businesses that use your service,” the court said in the letter. “Needless to say those that may be impacted are concerned.”
In addition, county leaders said the rail line was important to their future planning activities and economic development.
“The railroad is important,” Jim Jensen, county economic development director, said. Many of the business leads he said he receives from the state ask to be near or next to a railroad, with short or regional lines preferred.
“It’s a revenue issue,” Bill Lawrence, assistant county planning director, said. He has been in contact with Oregon Department of Transportation Rail Division and found that the number of carloads hauled on the shoreline have decreased, based on reports filed with the division, he said.
“Costs have been going up,” he added. “Traffic is key to their service.” Eagle Picher, west of Vale, is a key user of the railroad.
He has been in contact with state rail officials and watching the filings with the Surface Transportation Board, Lawrence said, and there have not been any formal filings by the railroad. He described the reports of the abandonment effort as rumors, at this time.
But, county officials agreed they should be proactive and try and meet with railroad officials.
In the letter to Greg Kissel, general manager of the Wyoming Colorado Railroad Company, the court said, “We look forward to hearing from you so we can schedule a time to meet and share with each other.”
Also, Wednesday at its regular session, the court authorized a resolution to be drawn up to formally order a hiring freeze in light of the tight county budget just adopted.
“We took a $200,000 hit on payment in lieu of taxes,” Malheur County Judge Dan Joyce said, referring to money paid by federal government on federal land the county does not receive property taxes on. Janice Belnap, county administrator, said she is looking at forming a benefit committee to review and discuss possible insurance benefit packages for employees in the upcoming years, as increased insurance costs are expected.
The order will put a freeze on all new hires and with replacement hires to be reviewed on a case by case basis, “and not hire if we can get by,” Belnap said.
The issue |
Rumors are circulating that the company in charge of the rail line between Ontario and Vale wants to abandon it.
Wednesday, the Malheur County Court framed a letter to the company — Wyoming Colorado Railroad Company — regarding a meeting between officials to find out more about the proposal.
The county economic development director Jim Jensen asserts the shoreline
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