Comment EI-25499
Received or sent (printed as 10/19/2016)
From: Jim Webster [mailto:JWebster@WinCoIL.us] Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 3:58 PM To: David Navecky <David.Navecky@stb.gov> Subject: Fwd: Stop GLB RailRoad Mr. Navecky, my name is Jim Webster I'm a county board member I represent the district where your train proposed route comes through Illinois I'm sharing this email with you it is typical of the ones I have been receiving you've got people very upset myself included the latest route that has been chosen would indeed affect my property as well as I am in close proximity. I have received hundreds of calls and emails only three have been in favor of your project. All of the rest are opposed very opposed. as an elected official I'm asking you please reopen a meeting for public comment in Winnebago County I'm sure that you have heard comments similar to the ones in this email and I agree with virtually everything in this email and also add to the fact that I am a Farm Bureau member and I stand with the Farm Bureau on this issue as well so please set up another meeting for public comment in Winnebago County as soon as possible I would greatly appreciate it and so will the people in this county as we are all greatly concerned about the effects of this Railroad. Thank you for your consideration, Jim Webster Winnebago County Board member district 2 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mark Grocholl <mark.grocholl@gmail.com> Date: Oct 19, 2016 2:18 PM Subject: Stop GLB RailRoad To: CountyBoardChairman <CountyBoardChairman@WinCoIL.us>,Ted Biondo <TBiondo@WinCoIL.us>,Dave Fiduccia <DFiduccia@WinCoIL.us>,Burt Gerl <BGerl@WinCoIL.us>,Angie Goral <AGoral@WinCoIL.us>,John Guevara <JGuevara@WinCoIL.us>,Joe Hoffman <JHoffman@WinCoIL.us>,Gary Jury <GJury@WinCoIL.us>,Faye Lyon <FLyon@WinCoIL.us>,John F Sweeney <JFSweeney@wincoil.us>,Dave Tassoni <DTassoni@WinCoIL.us>,Jim Webster <JWebster@WinCoIL.us>,Fred Wescott <FWescott@WinCoIL.us>,L.C. Wilson" <LCWilson@WinCoIL.us>,Dave Kelley <DKelley@WinCoIL.us>,David Boomer <DBoomer@WinCoIL.us>,Keith McDonald <KMcDonald@WinCoIL.us>,Eli Nicolosi <ENicolosi@WinCoIL.us>,Dorothy Redd <DRedd@WinCoIL.us>,Julio Salgado <JSalgado@WinCoIL.us>,Steve Schultz <SSchultz@WinCoIL.us> Cc: Winnebago County Board, I am writing about Great Lakes Basin Transportation, Inc. I recently found out that the latest proposed route of the GLB Railroad would past within 2000 feet of my residence. In addition I own 70 acres within one mile of the proposed route. This land is waterfront on the Pecatonica River. This is environmentally sensitive land that I have begun to restore to wetlands (from actively worked agricultural land). I do not believe that this project is for the public good because of the following reasons; 1. Safety: The railroad is proposing crossing or closing all routes in the area. This will cause longer response time for emergency providers (police, fire and ambulance). Because of delays caused to these services it will cause injuries to both people and property waiting for the increased response times. Also, school bus stops and routes would be greatly affected and I worry about potential accidents harming children. 2. Environmental impact: Being so close to wetlands on the Pecatonica River and some of the only cold watershed in Illinois, the proposed route would have a negative on wild life in the area. Thousands of birds migrate everyday through the area and raptors including Bald Eagle have made their home here. Rhule Creek is one of the only cold water springs in Northern Illinois and it may hold endangered species. The proposed route would go right through the creek. I am not willing to risk the harm to the wildlife here. 3. Need: Great Lakes Transportation is a For-Profit company not a railroad. CREATE has been working on improvements to the Chicago area railroads and GLB is not part of the area plan. Major railroads like Union Pacific have already said they are not interested in the project so where is the need. 4. Financial: Because I do not own land that would be used for the project, I would not receive any reimbursement from GLB. My property value would decrease do to the above reasons and the noise from the trains. Also, my insurance rates would increase because of the above mentioned delays caused by the railroad. The only viable alternative for the proposed GLB rail is the “No Action/No Build” alternative. Please take action immediately and contact the Surface Transportation Board and let them know that Winnebago County does not want this Rail Road and it will not benefit the residents of the county. Sincerely, Mark Grocholl"
Submitted by: Jim Webster · Winnebago County Board
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-35952/comment/EI-25499 · back to the docket sheet