HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 06-010-CCBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Grant County, Washington
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION No. 06- 0/6 -CC
KEEPING THE COULEsE CITY TO
CHENEY LINE OF THE PALOUSE
RIVER COULEE CITY RAILROAD
RUNNING.
WHEREAS, in 2003 the Washington State Legislature directed the Washington State
Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to purchase and rehabilitate the Palouse River Coulee
City railroad;
market;
WHEREAS, without this rail line, 18 million bushels of wheat must find a new way to get to
WHEREAS, the WSDOT determined in 2003 that the increase in road maintenance costs
from the increased truck traffic far outweighed the cost of purchasing the railroad;
WHEREAS, the railroad is a lifeline that will allow for economic development in the area.
Without the railroad, biofuel facilities and other businesses will not locate to here,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT the Board of County
Commissioners of Grant County are in support of keeping the Coulee City to Cheney Line of the
Palouse River Coulee City Railroad running.
DATED this � day of , 2006.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Yea Nay Abstain GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON
d ❑ ❑ Richard Stevens, Chair
LB ❑ ❑ � ��
Deborah Moore, Member
El LeRoy Allison, Member
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Grant County Commissioners
PO Box 37
Ephrata, WA 98823
Dear Commissioner:
January 19, 2006
We need your help to keep the Coulee Cityto Cheney ime of the Paloase River Coulcc City Railroad
running.
You probably know that the operating company, WATCO, has stopped operations and has plans to
pull up the rails This came as a surprise, since the legislature had directed the Washington State
Department of Transportation (WSDOT) back in 2003 to purchase and rehabilitate the railroad.
At this point, it is imperative that the legislature act within the next few weeks or the rail line may
be lost forever. Many of the legislators on the transportation committees are not from Eastern
Washington and may not understand the seriousness of the situation. They need to hear from you.
Without this rail line, 18 million bushels of wheat must find a new way to get to market. WSDOT
determined in 2003 that the increase in road maintenance costs from the increased truck traffic far
outweighed the cost of purchasing the railroad. County and city roads will be destroyed. In addition
to road maintenance, the railroad is a lifeline that will allow for economic development in the area.
Without it, biofuel facilities and other businesses will not locate here.
Please draft and send a resolution from the County to each member of both the House and Senate
Transportation Committees The list of these members is enclosed. Thank you.
Cordially yours,
BOB MORTON
State Senator
7th Legislative District
Enclosure
MIKE ARMSTRON
State Representative
12th Legislative District
RECEIVED
JAN 2 3 2006
GRANT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS