MONROE -All-terrain vehicle enthusiasts might have to find an alternate route after the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission (PRTC) voted Friday to give more than four miles of the Cheese Country Trail back to the railroad.
The area the railroad wants to use is a 4.5-mile stretch between Honey Creek Road and Patterson Road, just west of Monroe.
The commission learned from Ken Lucht, of the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, that the railroad wants to extend the track about 1.5 miles west of Monroe to accommodate more train usage by Badger State Ethanol. Lucht said there are times when train cars have to be taken back to Janesville to make more room for incoming rail traffic. He said more track is needed to temporarily store rail cars.
When the railroad gave up the line from Monroe to Mineral Point, which became the Cheese Country Trail, in the late 1980s it was with the understanding it would get the trail back if it ever expanded rail service. In 2000, the railroad and the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission signed a contract to that effect.
A portion of the contract states the railroad has to give the Tri-County Trails Commission, which oversees the Cheese Country Trail, six months notification of its plan to take back part of the trail. The railroad would be able to take possession of the trail portion in January 2010.
In spite of the contract, commission member Jed Gant was one of three PRTC members to oppose the resolution giving the land back to the railroad. Gant, who also is on the Lafayette County Board and a member of the Tri-County Trails Commission, said losing part of the trail, which would be closest to Monroe, would hurt Monroe, Clarno township and Green County.
"As far as I'm concerned, the trail now starts in Browntown," Gant told his fellow commissioners. "Lafayette County isn't going to take it in the shorts, but Green County will. This is going to be devastating to Monroe. I don't think it's fair to the city."
Gant, along with commission members John Bartels and Ted Wiegel voted against the resolution. Eight others voted for the resolution.
Gant said it bothered him that no one from Monroe, Clarno township or Green County as a whole was informed of the commission's plan to return a portion of the trail to the railroad. Gant said it would appear that a major decision that affects many people would be made by a few on the rail commission.
Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh was surprised when he learned Friday the commission would give part of the Cheese Country Trail back to the railroad. He said no one told him of the proposal.
"To take away the trail head will have an economic impact on Monroe," Marsh said. "People come into Monroe to get gas and food. It would shut down the whole west side (of the city)."
In 2005, it was estimated users of the Cheese Country Trail spent about $11 million annually at businesses along the route.
Lucht said the Tri-County Trail Commission could find an alternative route for ATV users along country roads to create a bypass of the area used for rail cars. There aren't any engineering plans available and no time has been set to build the rail extension. It's doubtful anything would be done before next summer, he told the commission.
It might be possible for ATVs to share part of the rail line with the railroad, as well. There would be a barrier between the train and the ATVs.
Another alternative is for a parallel route to be made next to the track. The funds for such a project would come from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The commission voted to send letters and invite representatives of all municipalities affected by the proposal to its next meeting, at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, in the basement conference room at the Green County Courthouse.
The Tri-County Trails Commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at the Alliant Center in Mineral Point.
In other business Friday, the railroad commission presented a resolution to the family of long-time commission member Bob Hoesly, who died July 1, 2008. Hoesly served on the commission from the time it began in 1979 until the time of his death.
His son, Jim, said the family appreciated the recognition.
""It makes us feel good that he was honored this way,' he said.
The area the railroad wants to use is a 4.5-mile stretch between Honey Creek Road and Patterson Road, just west of Monroe.
The commission learned from Ken Lucht, of the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, that the railroad wants to extend the track about 1.5 miles west of Monroe to accommodate more train usage by Badger State Ethanol. Lucht said there are times when train cars have to be taken back to Janesville to make more room for incoming rail traffic. He said more track is needed to temporarily store rail cars.
When the railroad gave up the line from Monroe to Mineral Point, which became the Cheese Country Trail, in the late 1980s it was with the understanding it would get the trail back if it ever expanded rail service. In 2000, the railroad and the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission signed a contract to that effect.
A portion of the contract states the railroad has to give the Tri-County Trails Commission, which oversees the Cheese Country Trail, six months notification of its plan to take back part of the trail. The railroad would be able to take possession of the trail portion in January 2010.
In spite of the contract, commission member Jed Gant was one of three PRTC members to oppose the resolution giving the land back to the railroad. Gant, who also is on the Lafayette County Board and a member of the Tri-County Trails Commission, said losing part of the trail, which would be closest to Monroe, would hurt Monroe, Clarno township and Green County.
"As far as I'm concerned, the trail now starts in Browntown," Gant told his fellow commissioners. "Lafayette County isn't going to take it in the shorts, but Green County will. This is going to be devastating to Monroe. I don't think it's fair to the city."
Gant, along with commission members John Bartels and Ted Wiegel voted against the resolution. Eight others voted for the resolution.
Gant said it bothered him that no one from Monroe, Clarno township or Green County as a whole was informed of the commission's plan to return a portion of the trail to the railroad. Gant said it would appear that a major decision that affects many people would be made by a few on the rail commission.
Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh was surprised when he learned Friday the commission would give part of the Cheese Country Trail back to the railroad. He said no one told him of the proposal.
"To take away the trail head will have an economic impact on Monroe," Marsh said. "People come into Monroe to get gas and food. It would shut down the whole west side (of the city)."
In 2005, it was estimated users of the Cheese Country Trail spent about $11 million annually at businesses along the route.
Lucht said the Tri-County Trail Commission could find an alternative route for ATV users along country roads to create a bypass of the area used for rail cars. There aren't any engineering plans available and no time has been set to build the rail extension. It's doubtful anything would be done before next summer, he told the commission.
It might be possible for ATVs to share part of the rail line with the railroad, as well. There would be a barrier between the train and the ATVs.
Another alternative is for a parallel route to be made next to the track. The funds for such a project would come from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The commission voted to send letters and invite representatives of all municipalities affected by the proposal to its next meeting, at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, in the basement conference room at the Green County Courthouse.
The Tri-County Trails Commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at the Alliant Center in Mineral Point.
In other business Friday, the railroad commission presented a resolution to the family of long-time commission member Bob Hoesly, who died July 1, 2008. Hoesly served on the commission from the time it began in 1979 until the time of his death.
His son, Jim, said the family appreciated the recognition.
""It makes us feel good that he was honored this way,' he said.