That’s the question the Journal Star’s editorial doesn’t ask or answer.
Pioneer Railcorp has a standing offer to purchase the Kellar Branch for $565,000 or accept a long-term lease on it. The Peoria Park District wants to lease the right-of-way for $1 per year for 99 years and remove the rails and ties, thus destroying this half-million dollar asset owned by the city.
The city is going to begin budget negotiations soon. On their plate: figuring out a way to fully staff fire station 11, increase police protection, and comply with GASB 45, all without raising taxes or spurious “garbage fees.”
Maybe one would argue that the trail will be more profitable than the rail line. Of course, that’s patently ridiculous, but even if it were true, who says you have to have one or the other? Pioneer has also offered $100,000 as well as equipment to help build the trail next to the Kellar Branch rail line. Between that money and the state grants the park district has already applied for and received, there’s no reason we can’t have both.
In the Journal Star’s world, they would rather rob the fire department to fund the police department and give the park district a half-million dollar asset to squander. Hopefully the city will come to its senses and not continue pursuing such short-sighted and ruinous advice.
Once again I’ll ask the question. Just exactly who is behind the big push for a trail? No, not the people making noise but the behind the scenes movers.
very good question, Vonster, and it begs the question, why? Trails are notorious money pits. None of them even come close to break-even. So, does somebody have something to gain by destroying the railroad? Follow the money. Something is rotten in Denmark, or, more accurately, Peoria.
Vonster, as far as I know, the all-or-nothing trail thing is supported by the Park District, the City, the Journal Star, and various fitness enthusiasts/environmentalists. Oh, and Ray LaHood, to keep peace in the family. I think that’s probably enough without further behind-the-scenes movers, but who knows?
At the risk of sounding a little simplistic, isn’t C.J.’s list above [minus the environmentalists – fitness goobers] the same group behind every major ‘project’ in Peoria? It reads like a Peoria Rotary Club membership. There are NO checks and balances in Peoria politics. The J Star is so biased towards the projects it supports. If I read one more article by Barbara Drake about this idiotic museum I am going to puke. “Behind-the-scenes movers?” I don’t know…I think most of these “movers” love every bit of publicity they can get.
SC