(The following story by James Quirk Jr. appeared on the Hawk Eye website on March 9.)
BURLINGTON, Iowa — The Burlington City Council plans to meet privately Monday, but officials aren’t saying if the closed session is to discuss the lawsuit filed last week against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
All City Manager Bruce Slagle would say Friday is that the meeting, which will take place during a 4:30 Monday work session, was called to discuss matters dealing with litigation.
On Thursday, the city sued BNSF in Des Moines County District Court in an effort to keep local shops jobs in Burlington.
The railroad laid off nearly 260 employees in January 2003 and plans to transfer 93 others to either Galesburg, Ill., or Topeka, Kan., leaving only 44 jobs in Burlington.
However, in a 146–year–old agreement the city made with the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, which was later absorbed by another railroad until finally taken over by BNSF, the railroad would be able to use riverfront property for its operations as long it would maintain its principal shops in the city.
The lawsuit claims the railroad breached its contract with the city by moving jobs elsewhere. City officials hope that the courts agree and force the railroad to start paying rent for using the riverfront property.
City officials hope the amount the railroad has to pay to use the property is so much that BNSF will find it more profitable to return the principal shops to Burlington.