06-G-Fannin Rail District - Laserfiche WebLink

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AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET PROJECT: Consider a resolution supporting the efforts of the Fannin Rail Transportation district to continue rail operations along feeder tracks, including a four mile portion inside the city of Paris, and extending in a westerly direction. BACKGROUND: The City of Paris was contacted by the Fannin Rail District and D&R Railroad soliciting the support of the City of Paris in the form of a formal resolution of the City Council with regard to continuation of rail operation extending westward from the city of Paris. Specifically, the issue is whether or not rail service can be continued upon the existing tracks owned by the Union Pacific Railroad which extend westerly from the city of Paris to Bells. Maps indicating the route in question are included in the agenda package materials. Currently, it is the understanding of the City that Union Pacific intends to abandon the track in question and presumably remove the existing rail, so that Paris will be even further isolated with respect to potential rail service. A resolution was presented to the City Council for its consideration at the February 12, 2001, meeting. At that time, the resolution presented to Council contained language requested by the Fannin Rail District. Since that original Council meeting, meetings have been held involving various representatives of the City, the Chamber of Commerce, the Fannin Rail District, D&R Railroad, States Railroad (parent company for Kiamichi Railroad), and the Union Pacific Railroad. Issues have been discussed with regard to what will ultimately happen to the track in question and the perspective of each entity and their ability to affect what happens to the track. As a consequence of those meetings, additional changes to the proposed resolution have been suggested by both the Chamber of Commerce and States Railroad (Kiamichi Railroad). While some of the suggested changes would only serve to clarify certain portions of the resolution, other changes could have a significant impact on the intended purpose of the resolution from the perspective of the original requestor, the Fannin Rail District. In an effort to advise Council as succinctly as possible, the agenda package includes the original draft resolution presented in February (which includes changes proposed by the Fannin Rail District), and a markup resolution which shows in a single document the changes originally incorporated at the request of the Fannin Rail District, the changes proposed by the Chamber of Commerce, and the changes proposed by States Railroad. DESCRIPTION: City Council should review carefully the changes proposed by each of the respective parties in this matter, as well as the supporting documentation included with the agenda package. Thereafter, Council should direct City staff as to the exact language which Council deems appropriate for inclusion in the final resolution. Presumably, the representatives of the respective parties on this issue will be in attendance at the City Council to present their concerns with regard to the language which would be included, omitted, or substituted in the resolution.