Railroad Disclosure List
To the Editor:
With regard to the potential re-entry of railroad usage in the Plymouth area, as a member of Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers, and as a citizen member of the Sheboygan County Citizens for Land Use Planning Implementation Committee, and as a local taxpayer, I am concerned with:
• Operations of the Plymouth community, the published location of my life in Wisconsin; • The long-term health and well-being of my chosen city, and
• The highest and best use of funds required of me by my government.
I request that the following be carried out by the mayor, common council, and all officials responsible for public programs. I ask that every taxpaying citizen become informed about, and then speak out on the issues herein presented:
That the mayor of Plymouth
a. Disclose persons and entitles actively considering the potential reinstatement and redevelopment of a Plymouth railroad, or state for the public why names have not as yet been disclosed.
b. Present to the public, what is planned to be put into place for stated entities, both private and governmental, that will benefit from the redevelopment of a Plymouth railroad line to the east.
c. Determine which of these entities will be bearing what costs for same.
d. Inform citizens regarding timing for a proposed environmental impact statement, including associated industrial development.
e. Inform citizens of alternative routes that may be considered. f. Present the proposed preliminary financial plan for this development. g. State the proposed long-term financial plan for the development.
h. Inform the public regarding county emergency plans in place to handle the expansion.
i. State the position of Phil Cosson, financial consultant to the Plymouth Common Council with regard to the proposed plan.
j. State the benefits or challenges to citizens for increased demands on Plymouth utilities.
k. State the proposed returns on investment for the development.
l. Provide the proposed date by which the public will be informed of all parts of the proposal for which a referendum will be held.
Having traveled on fast, efficient trains in Europe, and in fact sold rail passes for same, my personal bias is to develop railroads for private citizens, not only for business. Of course, appropriate procedures in so doing are of great concern, as well as costs and environmental impact. I ask that our leaders fully inform citizens in a timely way for democratic community and area benefit, perhaps setting forth a development schedule for our better understanding.
Thanx for listening!
Carol Ann Rittenhouse
Plymouth
