Supervisors hear update on railroad conflict with MRT project near Lansing

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, May 7, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour, who updated the Board on a meeting last week with representatives from Canadian Pacific Railroad regarding the Mississippi River Bike Trail (MRT).
Ridenour said that the railroad remains inflexible with regard to any construction within its right-of-way due to concerns about liability and safety issues with pedestrians and bicycles too close to the tracks. He explained that without the railroad’s approval, federal funds could not be used to fund the MRT project plans for shoulder widening near Lansing and Harpers Ferry and, as a result, the portion of the trail just south of Lansing is “pretty much dead,” according to Ridenour, and the section near Harpers Ferry will need to be redesigned.
Case Management Administrator Kim Waters presented the Board with a letter of resignation from Annie Althoff, which the Board approved, effective Friday, May 11. Waters also presented the Board with a cost advisory report that determines her office’s indirect costs to be reimbursed to the County. She said that while these costs usually average around 10 to 15 percent of her budget, this year’s estimate is only 1.5 percent. The Board approved the report, but Waters said she would ask that the numbers be rechecked.
The Board also accepted the resignation of E-911 Coordinator Jeanie Carroll, effective June 29, with thanks for her many years of service. The Board also approved the hiring of Carroll’s replacement, Christopher Fee, who began training May 3.
In other business, the Board asked Ridenour to review the plans and specifications for a major upgrade to the courthouse heating and cooling system. The Board also accepted the low bid from Bruening Rock Products for resurfacing of County gravel roads and set Tuesday, May 29 at 10 a.m. as the date and time for a public hearing on amendments to the County budget for the current fiscal year.