Out of State Intermodal Trouble

Click title for story link Board to sue over rail facility Montgomery County is expecting to spend up to $250,000 in legal fees to pursue the case. By Kevin Litten 381-1643 Montgomery County officials on Tuesday announced plans to file suit against the state over its plan to spend $40 million in public funds on the Norfolk Southern intermodal facility in Elliston, saying it violates the state constitution's prohibition on spending state money on private industry. Supervisor Gary Creed said the county is expecting to pay as much as $250,000 in legal fees to pursue the case, which he described as a confrontation over how public money can be spent. "The truth is, if Norfolk Southern was doing this with all their money, there's nothing in the world that would stop it," Creed said. Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer, who announced Aug. 19 that Elliston had been chosen as the $50.5 million project's location, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Norfolk Southern spokeswoman Susan Terpay declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

Here's the problem: CSX controls the tracks

Click title for story link Here's the problem: CSX controls the tracks Glen Cannon ["Can't we do better than a stool and confusion?" Aug. 18] sounds like he is well-traveled. His comment is about train service in the Fredericksburg area. He states, "The present level of service would not be tolerated in any European country, and would be a source of amazement and scorn in Japan." One big reason the railroads run better in Europe is because the governments there own and run the railroads. In the Fredericksburg area, both Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express are subject to CSX, which owns the tracks in this area.

The Old Sheriff Knew How Politics Worked

By Bill Rufty Published: Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. Last Modified: Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. Every election year about this time I start thinking back about the late Monroe Brannen. He was wounded in the Philippines in World War II. Later, as a Lakeland police officer in 1949, he was shot in the face answering a domestic violence call. He served as sheriff for 16 years, and was a consummate campaigner and campaign adviser long after he left office. He died in March 2006. I had no "old hand" to turn to that year for a glimpse of elections way past. Brannen almost always wore a hat, and I figure he probably was one of those dignified old gentlemen who dressed up every time they went to town, even to Wal-Mart. When he walked into a political meeting, even in his 80s long after leaving office, many people would stand when he came in. He just had that presence. His greatest loves were politics and getting out and meeting people. At his funeral he was described as "Polk County's senior statesman.'' Brannen didn't think much of the Internet, or even television as campaign tools. Oh, he knew they worked and reached a lot of people, but he said it separated the voter from the candidate, and that, in his opinion, was inexcusable. Brannen felt that a candidate's character is best shown in person. "You just can't get the measure of a man if you can't shake his hand and look him in the eye,'' Brannen once said. Amen, Sheriff, amen. SEE JD RUN It is hard to tell from all of his television ads over the last two weeks whether state Sen. JD Alexander is running for re-election, or is a new show in the fall television lineup. He won't be up for election tomorrow. His race isn't until Nov. 4. He had raised $308,915 by Thursday, of which $40,000 was a loan, and had another $50,000 of in-kind services, largely from the Republican Party of Florida, to pay for polling, fundraising event expenses and campaign staff. That polling must not have been good, because independent expenses in the multi-thousands of dollars from third party groups for his re-election have gone through the roof. The state Republican Party has paid for at least three glossy mailouts for the Lake Wales Republican incumbent. The most recent television ads are paid for by the Florida Chamber Alliance, and several organizations - including Citizens First, the sponsor of the Amendment 1 drive - have been sending out literature. Alexander was an early and strong supporter of Amendment 1, and the organization apparently is showing its gratitude. They began mailouts before Alexander even drew an opponent and apparently, even before he made the decision to run again. They weren't exactly campaign ads; they were thanking him for his work on Amendment 1 that passed in January, or they explained what he did for his constituents during the 2008 session of the Legislature. Keep in mind that his Democratic Party opponent, Scott Thompson of Winter Haven, recorded less than $5,935 in campaign funds with another $4,000 of in-kind contributions that include Web site hosting, printing and office supplies. So one has to ask: What makes JD run ... so early? Thompson, whose roots are just as deep as Alexander's in citrus and ranching, may slightly blunt the advantage that Alexander, the grandson of Ben Hill Griffin, has in a Senate district that is largely rural with some voters still swayed by a candidate's family history. It is almost as if Thompson was a handpicked opponent. There are a lot of questions about this race. First, Alexander didn't draw an opponent until the last day of qualifying to get on the ballot. And Alexander said himself that at first he planned not to run again. Then, an out-of-county newspaper branded him as one of seven vulnerable Republicans in the Florida Senate. With the money and the connections Alexander has generated, it seems a bit of wishful thinking on somebody's part. But here's another theory: Alexander has always thought of himself as a dealmaker, both in the Senate and in business. Tie him up with a legitimate candidate - and Thompson does have a serious background in agriculture even if he doesn't have campaign money - and you keep Alexander from supporting other candidates who might support his issues, which are often at odds with the issues of his fellow Republican, Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland. When portions of this item first ran in my blog last week, several Alexander supporters insisted it was part of the continual Winter Haven vs. Lakeland war over CSX and everything else east and west. One even spoke of Winter Haven as Lakeland's "poor stepchild." The campaign may have some aspects of that. But it is much bigger than the east-west county jealousies and this campaign will certainly bring it out on both sides. [ Ledger Political Editor Bill Rufty can be reached at bill.rufty@theledger.com or at 863-802-7523. His political blog is at politics.theledger.com. Join him Tuesday night for an online chat about the election. ]

Another train derails – this time in Newberry

Click title for story link 08/07/08 CRAIG COX Respond to this story Email this story to a friend NEWBERRY – Five cars on a CSX train derailed early Tuesday in Newberry near N.W. 252nd Street. The train, which was carrying silica sand and coal from Baldwin to Alachua County, derailed at about 12:30 a.m. Some of the silica sand was spilled from the train, which had two locomotives and seven cars, but none of the cars overturned, said CSX spokesman Gary Sease. The train conductor and an engineer were on the train at the time of the derailment, but neither was hurt, Sease said.

Pomona battle tops list

Click title for story link Pomona battle tops list Joe Blackstock Article Created: 08/18/2008 06:48:00 PM PDT My pick of the Fight of the 20th Century didn't involve Joe Louis or Muhammad Ali or even Hulk Hogan. It was the Battle of First Street, a dispute over a dirt road in Pomona one Saturday in April 1901 that pitted 1,000 residents against the mighty Southern Pacific Railroad. Admittedly, it wasn't exactly the battles of Lexington and Concord, but the citizens of Pomona rallied that day to fight what they perceived as a great injustice. They won the battle, both as combatants and later in court. This fight came at a time when the railroads ran roughshod over California. Cities bowed to the wishes of these powerful corporations to ensure they would continue to bring their commercial benefits to them. Earlier in April, Southern Pacific told Pomona it was going to put a new track on First Street, which it claimed was part of its right of way. The city disagreed, saying the street was public domain, and took the matter to court. The railroad, unmoved by the opposition from the little farm town, took matters into its own hands. On April 13, a train arrived in Pomona carrying 200 workers prepared to lay the new track.

JD Sides With Big Business Again

How many times will JD Alexander side with big business and push his own agenda? Click title for story link Donating land to a college can become a windfall By Michael Van Sickler, Times Staff Writer In print: Sunday, April 20, 2008 LAKELAND — A corporate gift of enough land for a new $200-million University of South Florida campus in Lakeland has been lauded for its public benefits. But the company donating the land, the Williams Acquisition Holding Co., stands to reap some benefits of its own.

CSX Project Pushes 2 Roads Higher on Construction Request

Click title for story link. By Tom PalmerTHE LEDGER Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. Last Modified: Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. BARTOW The construction of two new roads that could help relieve traffic problems that the planned CSX rail freight terminal will make worse should be top priorities for seeking state road funds, the Polk Transportation Planning Organization agreed Thursday.

Reed, Reagan, McKenzie, Taylor For Florida Legislature

Click above title for story link. The Tampa Tribune Published: August 9, 2008 Every election, voters in the Tampa area send qualified representatives to Tallahassee, yet Hillsborough County's legislative delegation remains among the weakest in Florida. As we offer our recommendations for the Aug. 26 primary election, we hope the winners will muscle up and place regional cooperation on their priority lists.

Letters To The Editor

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/aug/09/na-letters-to-the-editor/

CSXT Names Central Florida Businessman to State Post

Click above title for full story. JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- CSX Transportation has appointed Bob O'Malley, a public affairs executive in Central Florida, to anew position as resident vice president-state government affairs for Florida.The role is new, and will complement the company's efforts in the Southeast.In that regard, O'Malley will work in close partnership with Craig Camuso,the Atlanta-based regional vice president-Southeast. Both will report to MikeO'Malley (no relation), vice president-state government and community affairs,in Jacksonville.

Tampa Port Director Not Fond of Hub

Click title for link to story. In May, the Florida Legislature rejected the state Department of Transportation’s agreement with CSX Railroad to buy 61 miles of track in Central Florida. But since the purchase agreement doesn't expire until next year, supporters are preparing for a second legislative battle next spring. The railroad wants to shift freight trains out of Orlando and send them through downtown Lakeland and Plant City to a proposed 318-acre hub in Winter Haven. Supporters say when completed, the transportation hub, or, integrated logistics center, could be one of the pre-eminent rail-to-truck distribution centers in the Southeast. The hub is scheduled to open next year, and will undoubtedly change the transportation future in the Tampa bay area. That’s considered to be positive for the Port of Tampa, but Port Director Richard Wainio didn’t seem that enthused about it today. Wainio is a member of the Hillsborough County Metropolitian Planning Organization (MPO), which met today in Tampa. He said the traffic on State Road 60 and other highways in eastern Hillsboroough County will continue to grow with increases in the population. The traffic from the new hub could be a disadvantage to Hillsborough County, he said. Wainio said the Winter Haven hub would reduce truck traffic coming from Georgia on

DOT Should Review Other Options To Build Commuter Rail In Orlando

Click title for story link. Someone in state government needs to step up and address the standoff over the proposed commuter-rail project in Orlando. The obvious choice would be Stephanie Kopelousis, secretary of the Department of Transportation. But so far, Kopelousis has been little more than a cheerleader for the off-strategy project she inherited. It's time she demonstrated leadership on behalf of all Floridians, not just Orlando's politically powerful lawmakers. In May the Florida Legislature rejected the deal her agency struck with CSX Railroad to buy 61 miles of track in Central Florida. But since the purchase agreement doesn't expire until next year, supporters are preparing for a second legislative battle next spring. DOT cannot afford to sit on its hands and hope for a different outcome, especially since the opposition shows no sign of budging. This state has a $30-billion deficit in public transportation projects, and DOT needs to get moving.

Thompson Says Incumbent Is Out of Touch

Click title to read full story An east county candidate for the Florida Senate has a long family history in Polk County and in the citrus industry. Democrat Scott K. Thompson is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. J.D. Alexander of Lake Wales for state Senate District 17 in the Nov. 4 general election. Thompson wants to blunt the long family history and agricultural ties that have been an advantage to Alexander since he was first elected to the Senate without opposition in 2002.

City Hires Lawyer in Fight Against Trains

Click title above to link to story The city has hired a lawyer to advance its stance against increased freight train traffic through downtown Lakeland. Tallahassee-based David A. Theriaque will be paid $200 per hour, City Attorney Tim McCausland said. Theriaque's first order of business will be to represent Lakeland in the upcoming hearings about whether a huge CSX freight train terminal should be permitted in Winter Haven.

Planners Set CSX Rail Project Conditions

Click title above to link to story By Tom Palmer THE LEDGER Published: Friday, August 1, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. BARTOW A CSX railroad subsidiary can build a rail freight terminal in Winter Haven as long as it takes care of traffic and environmental issues, according to the Central Florida Regional Planning Council staff report.