Port of Royal Slope still not railroad owners

ROYAL CITY - The legislature and the governor have done their part, but the Washington State Department of Transportation, which operates at the speed of bureaucracy, has not, and the Port of Royal Slope does not yet own a railroad.

The legislature passed a bill by overwhelming votes in April to award ownership of the Royal Slope Railroad short line for at least five years to the PORS. Gov, Jay Inslee signed it in May.

It's July now, and PORS Executive Director Cathy Potter has just been told by the WSDOT that she should receive the actual contract that transfers ownership from the WSDOT to the PORS this week.

"It was being held up for the exact wording the governor wanted about the 5-year clause," Potter said.

The 5-year clause is highly important. If the PORS can't find an operator for the line within that time frame, the line's ownership will revert back to the WSDOT.

If the PORS finds an operator but loses it at any time in the future, there will be another 5-year period in which the PORS will be allowed to find a new one. If it can't, ownership will revert to the WSDOT.

Potter explained the hangup to the PORS commissioners at their last meeting on June 23. She also reported on a May 28 meeting the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad held for short line owners.

Potter said leaders of the various divisions of the BNSF spoke about the roles of the divisions. She said a person from the farm commodities division told the group the BNSF is happy working with the short lines like Royal Slope.

"They like the short lines," Potter said. "They bring cars of business to the BNSF."

Potter told the commissioners there will be a Railroad Caucus of legislators in Spokane on July 10 that she will be unable to attend. It appears Alan Schrom and/or Frank Mianecki will take her place.

The gathering will be chaired by Rep. Matt Manweller, the Ellensburg Republican who helped acquire ownership of the Royal Slope Railroad.

"He wants us to be there to tell our story, about how long it took and all the roadblocks," Potter said.

Potter told the commissioners that the request for proposal document she needs for prospective rail operators has been completed. It's just waiting for the ownership contract to arrive so it can be mailed out.

Potter apprised the commissioners of a challenge that has surfaced in relation to the Royal Golf Course. The City of Royal City sent the PORS a bill for $5,000 for the sign the PORS has on city property at the golf course.

The welcome sign identifies, the City of Royal City, the Royal Golf Course and the PORS, which is across Highway 26 from the city property. According to Potter, the leasing of the sign was done as a way to support the golf course. The money went to the city to use on the golf course.

Potter said the Port agreed to do that for five years. Because of budget constraints, it did not plan to renew that agreement when it expired this year.

"We still want to support the golf course, but we can't commit $25,000," Potter said. "We have offered $1,000 this year for the welcome sign."