Hold The Mayo: Study Says DME Cant Repay Loan

[wallyworld]

Short version: Why build a hospital next to a railroad and then complain that you hear trains? Duh...

[wallyworld]

Escalation into State versus state. Dakota , the state that was characterized in this fracass as being worth less than the Mayo itself, steps up to the plate. Minnesota makes a bee line to the Secretary of Transportation-ups the ante.
DM&E president Kevin Schieffer said he wasn't too worried about the letter or the report.

"Mayo's tax-exempt resources and Rochester's tax dollars have produced more nonsense that will be rejected as every other discredited study they have done," he said.


http://ap.brainerddispatch.com/pstories/state/mn/20060518/3893770.shtml

State’s delegation sends letter defending DM&E project
BY PLAINSMAN STAFF

As the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad awaits word on whether its application for $2.5 billion in loan funds is approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, South Dakota’s delegation is expressing concern about a recent document released by opponents of the railroad project.
The delegation, in a joint letter Wednesday to FRA Administrator Joseph Boardman, calls into question the objectivity of the report. Sens. Tim Johnson and John Thune and Rep. Stephanie Herseth also reiterated their unanimous support of a project that would create thousands of jobs in South Dakota.
The FRA has until mid-June to announce its decision on the loan application for the Powder River Basin project.
“The sponsors of the study have clearly indicated that they oppose the PRB project, which raises questions about the impartiality of their analysis,” the delegation wrote.
“Clearly, a more credible source of information regarding DM&E’s finances is the railroad itself. We request that you give appropriate deference to the information it has provided to you regarding its financial condition and consider the source of the other information that you receive.”
Fifty-five of the 56 communities along the DM&E line have reached agreements with the railroad regarding rail traffic and mitigation issues, the delegation said.
The FRA has a strong track record of issuing sound loans to all classes of railroads, the letter said.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wallyworld


Note to DME-You will need all the connected allies you can find.

A-HA!! a conspiracy,.....I knew it. [}:)]

[gabe]

Sorry I can't read this thread in its entirety, but did anyone notice that the report measures the cost of the lone against DM&E's CURRENT equity value. Obviously, if DM&E gets the loan, its value will go up ten fold.

I think the DM&E is a mistake, as its enterance into the market will disrupt the financial predictions its expansion was based upon. But, I think this demonstrates the report was less than objective.

Gabe

[wallyworld]

Antigates-You have to wonder what the back story is. Although Mayo is certainly a player in Minnesota, beyond the border it only has brand recognition akin to Frosted Flakes.
It's political reach in Minnesota appears to exceed its grasp in Washington, unless there is a connection there I am unaware of, which is always possible. Again, where are the potential customers in all this? With all the hue and cry about monopolistic entrapment targeted at the current carriers from the utlilties, why are they not advocating more competition ie-DME?

"Schieffer said utilities encouraged the DM&E more than a decade ago to expand into the Wyoming coal business. With FRA officials analyzing the revenue prospects of the DM&E's expansion, he said utility support is important."

Vested interest is another term for conspiracy when it comes to politics, more often than not. If I had press credentials I would ask the utilities, What is your stake in this, if any? I dont see any governors weighing in, especially in Minnesota...it would not surprise me if this is a tempest in a teapot inasmuch one has to ask, how much clout does Mayo really does have?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wallyworld

Antigates-You have to wonder what the back story is. Although Mayo is certainly a player in Minnesota, beyond the border it only has brand recognition akin to Frosted Flakes.
It's political reach in Minnesota appears to exceed its grasp in Washington, unless there is a connection there I am unaware of, which is always possible.--<snip>-it would not surprise me if this is a tempest in a teapot inasmuch one has to ask, how much clout does Mayo really does have?

It's all a matter of perspective, I guess.


Does one have to be "perfect" in order to be allowed to find fault with others?

Last I checked, no one was perfect, but there are lots of complainers, draw your own conclusion.

[solzrules]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheAntiGates

QUOTE: Originally posted by wallyworld

Antigates-You have to wonder what the back story is. Although Mayo is certainly a player in Minnesota, beyond the border it only has brand recognition akin to Frosted Flakes.
It's political reach in Minnesota appears to exceed its grasp in Washington, unless there is a connection there I am unaware of, which is always possible.--<snip>-it would not surprise me if this is a tempest in a teapot inasmuch one has to ask, how much clout does Mayo really does have?

It's all a matter of perspective, I guess.


Does one have to be "perfect" in order to be allowed to find fault with others?

Last I checked, no one was perfect, but there are lots of complainers, draw your own conclusion.

......Well I'm perfect..........[:D]

[wallyworld]

Historically, the barrier of perfection to detect fault in ones own perspective, and in others seems to have been surmounted long ago. Does one complaint out of 56 weigh
more in the political arena? Well see what we see.

[zardoz]

QUOTE: Originally posted by solzrules
......Well I'm perfect..........[:D]

yeah, but a perfect what? [;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wallyworld

Historically, the barrier of perfection to detect fault in ones own perspective, and in others seems to have been surmounted long ago. Does one complaint out of 56 weigh
more in the political arena? Well see what we see.

Maybe the Mayo has medical services "clout" with the Federal government? Isn't that where the top dogs go to get their oil changed, etc?

Seems like Reagan used to go there a lot, maybe Cheney does too?

[doghouse]

O/T: Hey Silzi, is that the PCE grade you are standing on?

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheAntiGates

QUOTE: Originally posted by wallyworld

Historically, the barrier of perfection to detect fault in ones own perspective, and in others seems to have been surmounted long ago. Does one complaint out of 56 weigh
more in the political arena? Well see what we see.

Maybe the Mayo has medical services "clout" with the Federal government? Isn't that where the top dogs go to get their oil changed, etc?

Seems like Reagan used to go there a lot, maybe Cheney does too?

Most high government officials go to Walter Reed Hospital. Since it's run by the Army, there's more security for them.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/medtour/wreed.html

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl


Most high government officials go to Walter Reed Hospital. Since it's run by the Army, there's more security for them.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/medtour/wreed.html

Yeah, I know they go to WR for the implant that they put in them, and for routine checkups, but for some reason it seems like I recall the Mayo being where they go for the more indepth (pun intended) stuff.


http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/m/mayo_clinic/index.html?query=HEALTH,%20PERSONAL&field=des&match=exact

[wallyworld]

Antigates-thats certainly a theory that warrants a marker, as it would be a vested interest.

[wallyworld]

Former South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle says his appointment to the Mayo Clinic's board of directors would not put him at odds with the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad's coal train project.
Daschle says he was just elected to the Mayo board about a week ago and has never discussed the coal train issue with clinic officials.

The Sioux Falls-based railroad wants to link eastern Wyoming coal fields with Midwestern power plants by building new track to the coal fields and upgrading its existing line across South Dakota and southern Minnesota. The line runs through Rochester, Minnesota, and near the clinic, and Mayo has been opposed to that expansion

Wally: me thinks no comment required

[zardoz]

Liebling schedules town hall meeting on DM&E
State Rep. Tina Liebling will have a town hall meeting in Rochester on Sunday to discuss the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad expansion issue. The meeting begins at 3:30 p.m. in the board room at the city-county Government Center.

There is more to the article, but you need a subscription to access it.
http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=257352

[zardoz]

Here is some interesting info: http://www.dmerail.com/PRB%20Project.html

[zardoz]

(KAAL) -- Throughout Rochester's fight with DM&E railroad, congressman Gil Gutknecht has kept a pretty low profile, and he says there's a good reason.

While the city of Rochester, Olmsted County and the Mayo Clinic all oppose the expansion plan; local farmers say it could be a big help for them.

Ron Pagel, a farmer south of Rochester, spends a lot of his time harvesting. Now that planting season is here, many other farmers are keeping their crops in mind as well.

With the renewed debates about the DM&E railroad being routed away from Rochester, these farmers wonder how their crops can be easily transported.

"You can put a lot of trucks on one train and that takes that many tucks off the hwy," says Ron Pagel, Olmsted Co. Farm Bureau President.

Groups like the Farm Bureau of Minnesota are hoping that an upgraded railroad through Rochester will give them even quicker transports of their goods while keeping the crops at a decent price.

"If they re-route that through Iowa, They'll never upgrade our section of the railroad"

"I think the reason why I tried to keep a relatively low profile is because I know that many of the farm groups--while it's true that Mayo is the largest single employer in the State of Minnesota, and certainly the first congressional district--agriculture is still the most important industry in southern MN," said Rep. Gil Gutknecht, (R) Minnesota.

Congressmen like Gil Gutnecht are now trying to find a middle ground for the people around Rochester.

Today, names like Norm Colman and Mark Dayton joined his on a letter sent to congress urging the federal railroad administration to analyze the federal loan given to the DM&E to make sure the money wasn't being used frivolously.

The site even has some video:
http://www.kaaltv.com/article/view/100206/

[zardoz]

State’s delegation sends letter defending DM&E project
BY PLAINSMAN STAFF

As the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad awaits word on whether its application for $2.5 billion in loan funds is approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, South Dakota’s delegation is expressing concern about a recent document released by opponents of the railroad project.
The delegation, in a joint letter Wednesday to FRA Administrator Joseph Boardman, calls into question the objectivity of the report. Sens. Tim Johnson and John Thune and Rep. Stephanie Herseth also reiterated their unanimous support of a project that would create thousands of jobs in South Dakota.
The FRA has until mid-June to announce its decision on the loan application for the Powder River Basin project.
“The sponsors of the study have clearly indicated that they oppose the PRB project, which raises questions about the impartiality of their analysis,” the delegation wrote.
“Clearly, a more credible source of information regarding DM&E’s finances is the railroad itself. We request that you give appropriate deference to the information it has provided to you regarding its financial condition and consider the source of the other information that you receive.”
Fifty-five of the 56 communities along the DM&E line have reached agreements with the railroad regarding rail traffic and mitigation issues, the delegation said.
The FRA has a strong track record of issuing sound loans to all classes of railroads, the letter said.

http://www.plainsman.com/main.php?story_id=9001&page=23

[wallyworld]

Although the Plainsman article was posted earlier, the additional information is very interesting news, at least to me. There were more ducks lined up than I supposed, in the DME camp. Is this a tipping point?

[vsmith]

It does look like its still the Rochester/Mayo NIMBY coalition -vs- Everyone else, doesnt it.
I would never trust a report that was sponcered and paid for by the opposition and just happens to come to a conclusion supportive of the group that commisioned the report in the first place. If you beleive in that than I guess smoking cures cancer....

[solzrules]

[:(][:(]

QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

QUOTE: Originally posted by solzrules
......Well I'm perfect..........[:D]

yeah, but a perfect what? [;)]

Come on now. That hurts.

[:(][V][V][:(]

[solzrules]

QUOTE: Originally posted by doghouse

O/T: Hey Silzi, is that the PCE grade you are standing on?

Yup. Just inside of MT on the Idaho-MT state line.

That's even a genuine Milw Road tie.

I wanted to bring it home but the ball and chain said no.

Why the hell would you want that she said.

Do you know what this is I said.

Yes, and I am not riding all the way back to Wisconsin with that she said.

But it's my honeymoon I said.

Tough*** she said.

Oaky enough of that. No hard feelings or anything. I love my wife, honest.

[solzrules]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wallyworld

Although the Plainsman article was posted earlier, the additional information is very interesting news, at least to me. There were more ducks lined up than I supposed, in the DME camp. Is this a tipping point?

Could be. So far the only report that the Rochester coalition has filed in favor of their position is one that was paid for by the Rochester coalition. Heck, they could send me the money I will print out any report they want. (I'll use the money to invest in Cedar America rail holdings......)

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by solzrules

QUOTE: Originally posted by doghouse

O/T: Hey Silzi, is that the PCE grade you are standing on?

Yup. Just inside of MT on the Idaho-MT state line.

That's even a genuine Milw Road tie.

I was hoping that wasn't one of the ties you were "rebuilding" with.

[solzrules]

Well no, that is for a siding I am putting in over to the left of where I am standing in the picture.

Believe it or not there are worse ties on the Wisconsin and Southern by my house.

They just re-tied most of it last year.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by solzrules

Well no, that is for a siding I am putting in over to the left of where I am standing in the picture.

That must be especially straining to hold the tie so far off center like that?

[wallyworld]

Your arms must be geting tired by now

[wallyworld]

Takin it to the streets-right on,brother

Kevin Schieffer -- head of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad -- is attempting to set up a public meeting in Rochester next Wednesday with local leaders opposing his railroad's proposed revitalization project.

In a letter sent Friday to leaders of the Rochester Coalition, a consortium of local groups opposing the railroad project, Schieffer said he wants to hear Rochester's solution to mitigate the effects of DM&E's proposed $2.5 billion upgrade.

"You have said many times that you do not oppose the project if we enter into an agreement with you, but I have seen no proposed agreement," Schieffer wrote.

"After all these years of demanding an agreement and rejecting those that have been offered to you, we would ask to hear your proposal for dealing with these perceived problems," Schieffer wrote.

The letter was sent to Mayo CEO Dr. Glenn Forbes, Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede and Olmsted County Board Chairman Ken Brown -- all leaders in the Coalition which includes Mayo, the city and county governments, and the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce.

Officials were uncertain how they intend to respond to Schieffer's invitation.

"I don't know what to make of that," Brede said. "I guess we'll have to, as a Coalition, talk about this.

"The experience of (an April 13 meeting in) Sioux Falls, and the experience of folks who have gone back several years is that these things never seem to work," Brede said.

"My inclination, without talking to Dr. Forbes, Ken Brown or (city council president) Dennis Hanson, is we ought to honor his request ... and we should see if we can meet with him."

The public setting that Schieffer proposes irked Brown, who accused the railroad CEO of grandstanding.

"If he wanted honest negotiations, he'd sit down with decision-makers -- not in a public forum -- and hammer out an agreement," Brown said. "Negotiations are private things between all the principals."

Mayo spokesman Chris Gade suggested that, if Schieffer wants a public discussion, he should also be ready to release details of DM&E's loan application. The railroad is seeking a $2.5 billion federal loan for its project, and a locally funded economic study suggests the railroad wouldn't have sufficient revenues to repay the loan.

"We feel that this would be a wonderful opportunity for Kevin to share with the Rochester community his loan application," Gade said. "It would be interesting for the public to know why Kevin feels this project is viable."

[gabe]

Dude,

You should change your barber, you have a major split end.

Gabe