By Kelly Young
news@jacksonvilleprogress.com
The Rusk City Council held a special session Wednesday night to determine whether or not to enter into a purchase and sale agreement with American Heritage Railways for the Texas State Railroad. Only moments before the 5 p.m. meeting began, AHR sent a new, revised version of the contract to city hall for the council’s consideration. The city voted unanimously to table the agenda item until City Attorney Forrest Phifer had the time to properly analyze the new version of the deal.
“If what was just faxed to us a few minutes ago has the changes that we wanted made, then I really have no problems with it, but I would like to have some time to review this and compare it to the version that was e-mailed to me by (Palestine City Attorney) Ron Stupes,” Phifer said. “I have an aversion to signing a contract with blanks in it and I have an aversion to signing a contract I have not read in detail — especially one that is 17-pages-long, like this one.”
The council expressed some hesitancy about the deal, which would require the city to turn over land to the Texas State Railroad Operating Authority, rather than directly to AHR.
“At first the plan was going to be for us to transfer to AHR, but for us to transfer any type of park land would require an election. If we transfer it to the operating authority, we would not need an election,” Phifer said.
“The soonest we could hold an election would be in November, and if the election doesn’t go your way, then the issue is dead in the water.”
Although an additional contract with TSROA complicates the land-transfer process, Phifer believes such a deal would still protect the rights of the city of Rusk.
Councilman Kris Morgan made the motion to table the item until a later date.
“We are walking into a logistical wall right here, trying to figure out how to do a hat-trick with no notice. I don’t think it would be prudent for the council to approve this yet,” he said. “We need to table this for now, and give ourselves some more time to figure out how we want to work this. There are several rabbit trails that we can run — we need time to figure out which one is going to yield the best performance for the city of Rusk.”
The council tentatively decided to meet again to discuss and possible resolve this item, July 5.
Also on the agenda, the city voted to approve Charles Hassell, Marie Whitehead and Bob Goldsberry to serve on the board of directors of the TSROA. All three individuals are already serving in the same capacity for the railroad’s operating agency. The board will be comprised of three members nominated by the Rusk City Council, three nominated by the Palestine City Council and a seventh member to be determined later.
Mayor Angela Raiborn recommended the appointments of Hassell, Whitehead and Goldsberry.
“I think it is important to keep some consistency there. They know more about what has been going on with the railroad than anyone else,” Raiborn said. “I think you have done a wonderful job, and I thank you for all the hard work you have done to get us to this point.”
The council also voted in favor of paying the bills.
The Rusk City Council regularly meets at 5 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, at the city council chambers.
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