Exploratory Committee + Public Forum Meeting

January 12, 2025

Present at the meeting were various committee members plus some 45 members of the public seeking to be heard about their concerns with the project.

•       Welcome Comments - Mike Keeton welcomed all present reminding them that he, like them, is a landowner adjacent to the railroad right of way.

•       Review and approve minutes of last meeting(s) - Ralph received motion and second and unanimous agreement to approve the Committee Minutes from prior 2 meetings.

Old-Business

•       Status of Tenn Citizens for Wilderness Planning NITU extension - Ralph informed that the TCWP had filed for an extension on Dec 26, 2025 of the NITU and might hear within the week from the STB whether or not the extension is approved or not. If approved, the Railbanking status is extended thru April 2026 allowing additional time for TCWP to negotiate the transfer of the ROW.

•       Meet with other trail stewards (Mountain Goat Rail-Trail) - Ralph and John spoke briefly about the meeting held with MGTA (see notes in prior news posting for details). General feeling is that there is much to learn from other trail programs.

•       Create non-profit to manage any possible legal/financial needs - Ralph reported that a non-profit organization named Echoes of the Rail has been established in the event that that trail project needs a local sponsor. There has also been created a bank account at UCB to hold funds collected or to buy barriers and signs.

•       Draft a website bulletin board to collect/share info with the community - Ralph confirmed that the website is live and available for promotion. www.echoesoftherail.org

•       Seek info about barriers / signage to keep ATV / vehicular traffic off the corridor - John reported pricing and options have been explored. The best current option seems to be the use of old ties National Salvage cannot sell.

New Business & Prioritized Actions

•       Review suggestions and plans for barriers - Tommy and John reported that the price for bundled ties seems to be the best option and will move forward with talks to buy them and have National Salvage place them at public crossing to discourage unwanted vehicle traffic. Sign material was demonstrated to those present, all agreed they were seemingly well made. Content and final costs is to be determined - hopes are still present that RJ Corman might be asked to contribute since it is their property that is being trespassed on.

•       Publish and promote the website, invite comments: Ralph agreed to contact the local papers to have the website URL shared for all to see.

•       Work with local governments / Go before the County Commissioners to help answer questions - Mike and Ralph plan to attend the upcoming County Commissioners meeting on Jan 21, 2025.

•       Talk with Oneida Aldermen - need to follow up with Mayor Phillips-Jones about opinion of the Aldermen.

•       Plan neighborhood meetings for residents - Mike invited all to host local meetings in neighborhoods along the old track. No one stepped forward as yet.

•       Plan for valuation of corridor - TCWP has indicated they were working on an appraisal plan to understand what the right of way is worth.

Discussion / Q&A / comments from anyone present

Those present in turn reiterated the opinion of many landowners, that the land adjacent to the property they own should be given to them once the railroad is completely abandoned.

• committee members, and Mayor Phillips-Jones, encouraged landowners to research their deeds to know what circumstance their portion of the rail right of way might be bound to. It is believed that if an easement was the initial instrument for allowing the railroad to use the land, then the land could revert to original landowners, whereas if the original transfer was a fee simple [purchase, then RJ Corman would be the owner of the land even after railroad operations cease.

• It was discussed during the meeting, but generally overlooked by landowners, that under an NITU, terms of deeds be they fee simple or easements, do not matter, that the 1983 act of congress create the Railbanking systems which would override any reversion clauses and allow RJ Corman to pass title to the entire corridor in a single transaction to a trail manager.

Safety concerns were raised about the use of barriers, issue being that if someone was injured between barriers, safety personnel may have difficulty helping someone.

• The concern was noted, and discussions need to be had with National Salvage about this.

People asked how they could reach “railroad” police to report people using the ROW to access their private property.

• the number is being sought.

Next meeting of the committee to be held at Oneida City Hall on Feb 16 at 2 pm