Report on Jan. 25, 2003 Commission Meeting

Thanks To Vern Glover
C&TSRR Commission Meeting, January 25, 2003, Antonito, Colorado All Commissioners present, plus Bob Johnson, John Swartz, RGRPC representatives, citizens of Chama and Antonito.
Items Discussed:
1. Chama Main Street Enhancement Program
2. Negotiations between RGRPC and Commission
3. Trackwork Contract
4. Selection of Project Manager for Locomotive Work
5. EDA Coordinator Presentation
6. Marketing
7. Locomotive Status
8. Next Meeting
1. Joe Garcia, NMH&TD, presented the plans for the improvements to Chama's Terrace Avenue (Highway 17), essentially involving shoulders, curbs, drainage and so forth. Two pieces of C&TS property will be affected. One is an acre plus at the south end of the yard to be used as a catchbasin for drainage and the other is the upper parking area on the east side of the street. The latter will be curbed and paved to control access to Terrace Avenue and preserving a number of parallel parking spaces. The premise for all this is a planned three-fold increase in traffic over the next twenty years or so.
A concurrent project will be the rebuilding of the Chama River bridge that has seen some structural deterioration. The rebuilding process will involve some traffic restrictions, rerouting heavy trucks via Wolf Creek Pass and Pagosa Springs. Apparently an exception will be made for the C&TS buses.
2. Commissioner Steve Malnar reported that negotiations between the Commission and Rio Grande Railway Preservation Corporation were not yet completed. The issue of bills and payments for 2002 was not resolved. A difference of some $30,000 to $60,000 was headed toward arbitration, according to Malnar, when a possible different position was proposed by Rich Casford, who was seeking a common ground on the issues.
The management agreement for 2003 was not close to resolution. As Malnar presented it, the Commission would raise funds, perform strategic planning, maintain the locomotives, and see to rehabilitating the track. In this concept the management company would do marketing and advertising, ticket sales, day-to-day operations, daily maintenance. Ticket revenues would pass directly to the Commission which would then pay a management fee to the company.
Malnar stated that there were a couple of "sticking points" in the negotiations. These were the issues of locomotive and car shops and track maintenance work. The RGRPC position, as I confirmed later in conversation, was essentially "all or nothing."
Negotiations will continue. Meanwhile, the Commission will continue to operate the workshops and proceed with the track rehabilitation contract.
4. Under the heading of Other Business, Terri Shaw attempted to discuss the hiring of the Project Manager (Locomotive Work) in private with the Commission member, but was corrected by the reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain. An open meeting is an open meeting. Information gleaned from the subsequent exchanges is that there were thirteen applicants for the position. This reporter was not able to elicit the information as to any being competent engineering firms; later in the meeting we learned that RGRPC was one applicant. Subsequently there was some discussion about the Project Manager position in terms of job description, full or part time, duration, location, and so forth.
At this point, there appeared to be no particular sense of urgency by either the Commission or the Friends, co-sponsors of the EDA grant proposal, to select a project manager. The process of evaluation will continue through screening criteria, review, etc. The concept of the Executive Director of the Friends participating in the evaluation of a field of applicants which includes the RGRPC raises some large issues of fairness and protection of the interests of the C&TS versus the interests of the RGRPC.
5. Barbara Deaux of the Regional Council of Governments for Northern New Mexico will be the liaison for the Economic Development Administration locomotive grant, which will be administered by the EDA office in Austin, Texas. (The EDA office in Denver administered the earlier EDA track rehabilitation grants.) This brought forth a discussion about coordination between the two EDA offices led by Commissioner Entz.
As presented, the EDA is now looking at the locomotive project for factors that may lead to its failure to move forward at the expected pace. These were characterized as legal issues, showstoppers in the project arrangements (such as lack of facilities), or inability to manage or accomplish the planned effort. Former Commissioner John Swartz stated that the project needs an output that satisfies the Federal Railroad Administration as well as the EDA.
The issue of "early start" was discussed. The normal EDA position is that if a project can be started, then the EDA money may not be needed. A letter from the Commission to the EDA addressed this issue.
Ms. Deaux noted that EDA grants are often expedited by expressions of interest from congressional delegations. It is time for another round of letters expressing support to your Congressman and Senators from New Mexico and Colorado.
6. Marketing was discussed in exchanged between Commissioners and members of the audience. The Commission is evidently not ready to proceed with a marketing effort, but will support a community effort to create and distribute rack cards. Nominal approval of the use of railroad logos was offered by the Commissioners, subject to seeing the proposed cards. Dick Cowles mentioned that he was working to get additional New Mexico funds for marketing and Commissioner Carl Turner told everyone that the 2003 New Mexico Vacation Guide includes a good half page ad for the C&TS, obtained a no charge.
7. Mark Yates of the Chama locomotive shop force gave a status report. At Antonito, the tender of 484 is receiving major sheet metal replacement, new materials arrive at Antonito this week. Riveted appearance will not be changed. The Chama concession car is getting truck and bolster rebuilding.
At Chama, 487's driver pedestals are complete, with new shoes and wedges being prepared. Driving box crown brass sample castings are due in this coming week. Sixteen or more brasses have been ordered. Turning the first driver set has been completed and the second started. Piston rods are ready. A slotter or vertical shaper is needed to finish the driving box work. One has been located in California. (This work was previously done by the D&S at Durango, but that shop is too busy to take the work this year.)
488 also needs driving box refurbishment and driving box crown brasses will be replaced.
The boiler survey report on 484 was received. Changes to the FRA Part 230 Form 4 formulas require some recalculation; no effects expected. It was learned, however, that a new partial front flue sheet would be required in addition to previously known work.
8. Next Commission meeting will be an executive session planned for Saturday February 8 at Chama
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