(The following story by Greg Eckstrom appeared on the Boone News Republican website on July 10, 2010. BLET Member Orlando R. Penrod, Legislative Representative of BLET Division 106 in Boone, Iowa, received the resolution on behalf of the BLET.)
BOONE, Iowa — Yesterday, more than 10 months after the first train went across the new Kate Shelley High Bridge west of Boone, State Representative Donovan Olson presented those involved with the project with a framed copy of Resolution 118. The resolution honors the old and the new Kate Shelley High Bridges, the contributions both have made and will make into the future, and declaring March 9, 2010 as Railroad Day in Iowa.
“Well, as we know, we have a new bridge in town, just outside of town,” Olson said. “We have lots of economic development projects around the state, but I don’t think there are very many projects in the state that equal the investment of the new bridge and the economic opportunities that it brings to this area through good jobs and keeping a good company in this area. So I wanted to recognize that investment.”
“I also wanted to recognize the service of the prior bridge, the Kate Shelley High Bridge, built in 1901,” he said. “That has served the community for such a long time. It amazes me, we were talking earlier about how a bridge that was built at the turn of the century before cars were a common place had served on a mainline transportation route and provided so much opportunity to this area for such a long time.”
The individuals presented frames were representatives from the Boone County Historical Society, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, United Transportation Union, the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, and Union Pacific Railroad.
“Last year, the bridge was dedicated, and this spring during the legislative session, there was a railroad day,” Olson said. “It’s when railroads come to the capital to talk about their operations and discuss their needs with the legislature. I passed a resolution, at that time, honoring that day as railroad day in Iowa. The day was really to recognize both achievements…the achievement of the old Kate Shelley High Bridge and the achievements of the new bridge that was built, and recognize the investment of around $50 million in this community.”
In comparison to other projects around the state, the $50 million invested in the high bridge project ranks near the top, Olson said.
“When you look at economic development projects, there are very few $50 million economic development projects in this state,” he said.