Intermodal facility being explored |
Intermodal facility being explored |
Aug 20 2007, 01:01 PM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,425 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=54065.42
QUOTE Co. Committee To Look At Intermodal Officials to start advisory task force to ensure ‘transparent’ process in development. Laurie Wink The News-Dispatch LA PORTE - An advisory task force is being created to help county officials evaluate prospective developers and sites for an intermodal freight terminal in La Porte County. County Commission President Barbara Huston said in a press release Friday the commissioners are developing an "orderly and fair process" that would involve public input. The task force will have 15 to 20 members. The convergence of rail lines, coupled with closeness to major interstate highways, has positioned La Porte County as a prime location for a facility that could create jobs and boost economic development. It would serve as a place where cargo is transferred between trucks and trains. Two railroad companies are said to be eying locations here, but are saying little publicly about their plans. Some property owners have said they have been approached by a real estate company that has been buying options on farmland in southern La Porte County. "We will put a very public, transparent process in place to evaluate developers and sites before we ever give approvals to anyone," Huston said. Huston said the county has received multiple inquiries from real estate firms, venture capital groups, railroads and real estate investment trusts interested in prospective county locations. She said county attorney Shaw Friedman and county economic development coordinator Matt Reardon will coordinate contacts and issue a request of interest to identify serious proposals. Her own preference is to use the Kingsbury Industrial Park as the site of the intermodal facility, but she and the other commissioners are open to all possibilities, she said. |
Oct 5 2007, 01:03 PM
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Spends WAY too much time at CBTL Group: Admin Posts: 16,425 Joined: 8-December 06 From: Michigan City, IN Member No.: 2 |
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=54368.35
QUOTE We Can't Turn Our Back On Intermodal The intermodal project needs support from all elected leadership. My mother and father originally moved to the area to work at Kingsbury Ordnance Plant. I grew up in Stillwell and have spent my entire life of more than 70 years in La Porte. I've served on the La Porte City Council, the La Porte Park Board and coached the La Porte Sportsmen baseball team for more than 40 years. I've seen the ups and downs of our community. The economy of our city and county has been stagnant for more than 30 years. Our local economy is a wreck. Just look at our downtown and the lack of growth. La Porte needs jobs and needs leaders who clearly support growth. Leadership means taking a position on issues that may not be easy or without risk. "Fence sitting" has become a staple of La Porte City and La Porte County politics. The lack of political courage on important issues is the single biggest challenge of our community. Many of our current political leaders are more concerned with their election than the future of our community. This needs to stop. Are you for new jobs and development or not? It's not that hard a question. Tell us what your position is. We can live with it either way. Every voter needs to ask what kind of community we want to live in. Are you happy with the current condition or can we do better? Many local leaders have stated that they are waiting to see the intermodal proposal and studies from this potential development. This would be an understandable position if we had new business beating our doors down. Face it: La Porte County isn't the hotbed of job growth. How can any local leader turn their back on such a major investment and thousands of new jobs? This community needs to make a decision. Do we embrace growth and manage the issues that come with change? Or do we allow a vocal minority to drive local policy? You can't have it both ways. Growth comes with problems. Don't allow elected leaders to "ride the fence" because the train is at our doorstep and it's moving forward. Do we get on board and ride the growth or do we get bypassed because our leaders have a lack of political will? Pete Ford La Porte |
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