That’s the $40 million dollar question?
Officials are expected to announce the details of the deal between the city, federal regulators, BNSF Railway and the Ellis & Eastern Railroad. Under the terms of the deal, BNSF would receive millions of dollars for giving up the use of its rail yard.
The first thought that popped into my head is how or why would we be paying the railroad for land that is technically the Feds (ours) already. This explanation is going to be an interesting one. While the land that their buildings are on could technically be sold, I thought anything with tracks laying on it are Federal right-a-way and should go back to the Feds at NO charge.
My second thought was why was the Argus briefed about this before the city council (who will get briefed in executive session today after the informational, probably about the project). If the press conference is supposed to happen Wednesday, why is the administration waiting less then 24 hours to tell council? When I talked to council chair Kenny Anderson about this a few weeks ago, he said that the lawyers were mulling through the deal and it would be announced soon. Then bam, out of nowhere, without council knowledge, the Argus puts it out there. Seems the Mayor’s office has a mole with loose lips.
Based on past discussions, one of the sticking points has been BNSF’s desire to have SF taxpayers pay for part of their ongoing operations.
Listen to see IF this is part of the deal.
Also, how much of the $42 million dollar earmark that Tom Daschle** (Senate Majority Leader) secured over ten years ago for this project is actually left?
**(Thune and Johnson continued to work on this deal after Daschle left office, but it was actually Daschle who secured the earmark.)
Will any local tax dollars be needed to supplement the earmark?
And, how much of the 10 acres will eventually become flat surface parking?
Ellis’ updated story;
http://www.argusleader.com/story/jonathanellis/2015/07/21/ten-years-later-rail-relocation-done/30459365/
“The deal with BNSF Railway and the Ellis & Eastern Railroad would cost close to $30 million. It would include the sale of land for about $6.7 million, nearly $15 million to BNSF for the loss of the yard and another $6 million to pay for other upgrades and connectivity.
The money would come from a $40 million earmark that Congress approved in 2005. At the time, downtown boosters and the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce declared it as a top priority, and Sens. John Thune and Tim Johnson secured funding in the 2005 highway funding bill.”
Mole? What mole? That’s how the mayor has done business all along to try to keep the council in their place, and he certainly isn’t going to start playing nice ever since they started finding their own voice and standing up to him and fighting back.
His continued childish antics of releasing information to the media before the council shows he has no desire to work with the council or do what’s best for this city.
I believe it when the ink is dry and dirt is moved.
It’s rare or never that the feds give up real estate. The railroads are giving up their use but this doesn’t mean it’s a title transfer. The 40 million is enticement because (without property taxes) there’s no need for railroads to give up their permanent use. The amount is to much to pay for surface parking.