2005-053
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I
City of Hopkins
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Hennepin County, Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO. 2005-053
Resolution Supporting A State of Minnesota Capital Appropriation for a Railroad
Switching Yard in Glencoe, Minnesota
WHEREAS; the cities of Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Hopkins ("the Cities") have been jointly
working to eliminate noise disturbances to their residents living adjacent to segments of rail lines
where rail car sorting operations are performed; and
WHEREAS; in 1999, the Cities funded a noise study that concluded that these sorting operations
generate noise levels that exceed State of Minnesota noise standards; and
WHEREAS; the Cities have actively pursued short-term and long-term solutions to mitigate the noise
from these rail operations; and
WHEREAS; the Cities are concerned that the railroad operator, Twin Cities and Western Railroad
(TC&W), may in the future, expand their operations which would further worsen the already
untenable noise problems in the neighborhoods of the three communities; and
WHEREAS; the construction of a switching yard in Glencoe, Minnesota was identified as the long-
term solution that would completely eliminate the blocking operations from the residential
communities. A switching yard would be beneficial to Glencoe from both an operational and an
economic development standpoint; and
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WHEREAS; Minnesota Statute 16A.86 prescribes the process by which local governments and
political subdivisions may request State of Minnesota capital appropriations; and
WHEREAS; the Cities, in cooperation with the City of Glencoe and McLeod County Rail Authority,
have submitted an application for the State of Minnesota capital appropriation for land acquisition,
design, and development costs for the railroad switching yard.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Hopkins, Minnesota that
the City of Hopkins does hereby support the application for the State of Minnesota capital
appropriation by the Cities of Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, and Hopkins, in cooperation with the City
of Glencoe and the McLeod County Rail Authority, for a railroad switching yard in Glencoe,
Minnesota
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this ih day of June, 2005.
BY~/~
Eu e axwell, Mayor
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