MANKATO, Minn. — The city of Mankato has decided not to sue to block the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad’s plan to run coal trains through or around the city, a wire service reported.
The City Council voted 4 to 1 on May 13 not to pursue a full-blown lawsuit against the federal Surface Transportation Board, which approved the project. A majority of council members decided a court battle probably would be futile and would cost tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars.
Mayor Jeff Kagermeier said it’s more important for Mankato to begin talks with the DM&E and others in hopes of getting the city’s noise and safety concerns addressed if the railroad does go through Mankato.
The railroad earlier this year received final federal approval to rebuild its lines to carry coal from the state of Wyoming to Winona, Minn. The city of Rochester, the Mayo Clinic and at least seven other groups in Minnesota and South Dakota plan to sue the agency.