At yesterday’s Northfield Rotary lunch, member Doug Jones (left) presented a history of rail in Rice County and economic development arguments for its continuing expansion. In attendance was the president of Progressive Rail in Lakeville, Dave Fellon. (Click to enlarge.)
See this previous blog post and comments on how I got to know Dave last week.
Tracy Davis, Ross ‘Casey Jones‘ Currier and I have made arrangements with Dave and VP Dean Goranson to ride the train next Wednesday from Lakeville to Northfield. We’ll interview them for a podcast episode, discussing the proposed ethanol plant in Bridgewater Township, the prospects for commuter rail, the status of the Northfield railroal depot, and other railroal-related issues.
If you have questions you’d like us to ask, attach a comment here or use our Contact Us form.
I understand that for many Minnesotans, a Casey Jones birthday experience was one of the highlights of their youth…
Yep. This song continues to take up valuable storage space in the brains of most baby boomer Minnesotans, Ross:
Happy, happy birthday
To every girl and boy!
Hope this very special day
Brings you lots of joy!
Hope that birthday present
You get from Mom and Dad
Will make this very special day
The best you ever had!
Questions for your Wednesday train trip:
l. You could ask Fellon why Progressive Rail is masquerading as “Prairies to Power.” Why would Dundas/Northfield/Bridgewater Township want any dealings with a group that is not honest?
2. Doug Jones was invited by Supervisor Gary Ebling to present his plan for rezoning of 200-300 acres of our township at Comus Crossing to industrial to serve Progressive Rail there. You could ask him why he is now denying he brokered the deal to bring in the ethanol plant (requires no rezoning) at this same location.
3. The Dokmo Open House on Friday and Saturday was an ethanol promotional by “Prairies to Power” and Progressive Rail. Again, why the subterfuge? How long will the newspaper ads and mailings to area residents continue and who is actually paying for them? Who has posted the Prairies to Power yard sign on 19 near St. Olaf? Does Progressive Rail plan to blanket the town with them?
Okay, thanks, Stephanie.
[…] Moblogging our Progressive Rail interview By Griff Wigley Ross, Tracy and I will be heading up to Lakeville this morning sometime. We’ll visit the offices of Progressive Rail and then ride back to Northfield on one of their trains, interviewing Pres. Dave Fellon and VP Dean Goranson for our podcast. (See this previous blog post.) […]