09-11-17 Community Investment - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Mueller replied, The goal of this is to create South Bend as a commuter City to Chicago. In terms of dollar-per-minute saved, this is the cheaper alternative than the double-tracking project. Committee Chair Ferlic then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. Mick Perry, 901 E. Fox Street, stated, Actual double-tracking goes from Michigan City to Gary. I can see the wisdom of cutting down the time. I'm also concerned to hear the possibility of losing homes. Why couldn't we consider putting the track along Lincolnway? Randy Dudeck, 55171 Homes Road, stated, I want to know the reason for dead-ending the railroad at the airport. It used to be out of the Amtrack Station and the quickest way between two (2) points is a straight line. If you put it back to where the Amtrack Station is then maybe they could run lines to Elkhart or Goshen. James Dudeck, 55443 Orchid Road, stated, I concur with that. There would be more bang for the buck if they did that. Jeff Rea, President and CEO of the South Bend Chamber of Commerce located at 101 N. Michigan Street, stated, I'm not philosophically opposed to the content of the resolution. I'm just here to thank the Council on behalf of the Chamber for taking leadership on this important issue. We understand there are a number of details needed to be worked out but hope, at the end of the day, we accomplish the goal of becoming a commuter City to Chicago. I also think the language of making someone whole is very subjective and we need-to be careful of what that means. Marty Wolfson, 809 Park Avenue, stated, I support this. We are proposing $25 million, displacing thirty-five (3 5)to forty (40) families and saving nine (9)to ten(10)minutes in the commute from South Bend to Chicago and there is no concrete study that has been done to document the specific benefits. I would support a much stronger resolution that states we won't spend the money until we know more about the impact. Joseph Shabazz, 906 Blaine Avenue, stated, I've listened to the conversation and I hope this doesn't turn into something where you'll favor some residents over others. I hope you haven't decided that there is a particular group of people who are more entitled to keep their house than others. Sue Kessim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, stated, I'm also concerned with the terminology of making someone whole. It is really easy to relocate when you are young but we are eighty(80) and I have no idea where I would go. It is important to remember that there are real people in these homes. There is a person behind these decisions and they need to keep that in mind. Committeemember Davis stated, South Bend would not have double-tracking. There will be comments tonight regarding the dead-ending of the train at the airport. This resolution didn't want to address that yet because we are still in the early stages. I wanted to start the conversation and come to the middle ground. 3