By Dan Linehan
MANKATO — The Rochester Coalition — a private-public partnership opposing the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad’s plans to expand its track through that city — is moving its fight to Mankato.
A consultant representing an offshoot of the coalition, called Track The Truth, was in Mankato on Friday. He spoke to local opponents of the railroad’s expansion and its $2.3 billion loan application to the Federal Railroad Administration.
Last month, the FRA began a comment period to allow for public input on the loan. It ends on Oct. 10, and the coalition’s goal is to encourage opponents of the loan to write letters to the FRA before then.
The coalition’s main concern is that a railroad that the group’s pamphlet says has a “horrendous safety record” will derail with hazardous chemicals near the Mayo Clinic and its hundreds of patients.
“We are making every effort that we can make in the very limited time that we have to collect the many diverse organizations that have expressed opposition to this plan and give them reason to express it again,” said Leigh Geramanis, a coalition spokeswoman.
That diversity of opinion was evident in the gathering of 14 or so opponents who met in the Blue Earth County Library to talk about their strategy to influence the federal agency’s decision.
“Write to the FRA and oppose this loan,” said Patrick Connolly, the grass-roots coordinator hired by the coalition. “That’s the single best action step you can take between now and Oct. 10.”
Jerry Pietz of Mankato said the DM&E;’s rail upgrade might be a positive, but added that “the loan thing ticks me off.”
Katy Wortel, a Blue Earth County commissioner who said she wasn’t representing the board, also opposed the loan, but for a different reason.
“I’m going to always be opposed to their (DM&E;’s) expansion into the Powder River Basin,” Wortel said, referring to the Wyoming coal source.
Chuck Syverson of North Mankato also opposes that expansion, but for a still different reason.
He argues it doesn’t serve the nation’s energy or transportation interests, but rather the desires of an “antiquated” rail system.
The coalition also hopes to stimulate discussion along the line with a video with footage from smaller cities.
Geramanis says small towns were bullied into signing Community Partnership Agreements with the railroads, as 55 of the 56 cities along the lines have done.
The railroad’s message was “give us what we want, or we’ll make your life miserable,” Geramanis said.
Eagle Lake City Administrator Brad Potter doesn’t remember hearing that message when his city signed an agreement with the railroad last March.
Potter said the railroad offered improvements to the line that were “more than what the federal requirements were.”
Mankato signed its own agreement with DM&E;, also in March.
Discussion about the FRA loan isn’t all negative.
Kevin Paap is a Garden City resident and president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau.
“We’re supportive of this project and any transportation upgrades to help get products to consumers or to help get farm input” such as seeds and fertilizer, he said.
“Nobody lives at the farm gate.”
And Brian Krambeer, manager of the Rushford, Minn.-based Tri-County Electric Cooperative, said “there’s a tremendous demand for low-sulfur Powder River Basin coal.”
More coal, he says, would lower prices for his southeastern Minnesota cooperative.
As for the safety concerns, a railroad spokesman, Jafar Karim, said the project is all about improving rail safety.
While derailments on unimproved DM&E; rail line were more than four times as dangerous as the national average during the past 10 years, new line is almost 13 times safer than that average, according to documents provided by Karim.
After the public comment period ends, the FRA will have 90 days to decide whether to approve the loan.
