Sir: May I suggest there is an easy $1 million waiting to be accessed that could reduce the impact of any tax increase on Chatham-Kent residents and businesses? Council should sell half of the former CSX Rail line.
The purchase of the rail track, and the continuation of rail service, was seen as an important economic measure, particularly by residents and businesses in Wallaceburg and Dresden who wanted rail access for their products.
The purchase was referred to a government panel to determine the final price, after the council and CSX could not reach agreement, however, when the proposal to purchase, at the cost of approx $4 million, came before council, it was somewhat confusing as Economic Development staff included their supporting documentation an option to sell the rails and ties to CP Rail for $3.2Million, thus turning the rail track into a trail.
While the offer to sell the rails and ties has expired, I believe that CP could still be persuaded to reopen the deal but only for section running from Dresden to Chatham, thus retaining access for goods and services to move into and out of Wallaceburg, Tupperville and Dresden by rail.
South of Dresden, the elevators at Turnerville have been demolished and the elevators at Eberts have been functioning with truck only access for some time now, and there is no longer a need for CSX trains to travel from Sarnia to Chatham as CSX now has access to the CN tunnel from Sarnia to Port Huron.
The distance from Wallaceburg to Dresden is approx 20kms, as is the distance from Dresden to Chatham so Council should be able to get $1Million from CP for the rails and ties from the Dresden to Chatham section of the line.
John Willatt
Chatham
