CN Railine Abandonment ("Northgate-Frobisher sub")

[toe]

Jackflash... thank you for the info and connecting the dots .. The pieces all fit together if you have more data. If you could get a copy of the "Pipeline News" paper from a couple of weeks ago you could see a fairly lenghty article about the RM of Browning's feelings on the imminent destruction of their road system from such rail terminal oil traffic. They are talking really tough about heavy road users and even CN's necessay contribution to strengthening roads. Lots of luck getting a red cent from CN and the railways.
As for pavement and heavy traffic; last year the RM's argued that new pavement surface at well over one million per mile would divert such traffic off all the other roads. Now pavement can't stand heavy traffic and municipalities are looking for direct contributions and financing from the road users. When 88% of a poorer adjoining RM's tax base revenue comes from commercial and oil based sources it makes you wonder if farmers even have any moral right to totally control the shots from council chambers. Has anyone given that though a rough consideration? And guess what. Oil companies are catching on and being educated that they are the "sugar daddies"; the drivers of properity and jobs as well as the liability that councils consider them to be. I look foward to their involvement at council chambers in the future. They will make excellent additions to the knowledge base; and silently force those who remain untrained; and don't fully comprehend that whining about "thankless jobs" just isn't relevant.

Then I hear that the reeve of that same municipality may have just "retired". See too if the reeve of an adjoining RM wants to keep his job this fall. Remember all council members will have a 4 year stint from now on. How many foreman's jobs will be up for grabs as they age and wear out like the rest of us. Their skills are appreciated and compensated much better outside of "public service" jobs; in a booming economy that is about to turn into a full explosion.
How will the new required "Community long range vision/plans be prepared". They are worth upward of $60,000 each and are considered essential for any municipality which plans to grow and prosper the future. Will the "Economic Development" officers even stick around when they tire of dragging Councils who don't "Get it". What fraction of ratepayers have even the first clue about anything I have just said? And more importantly, does everyone want to know?

[toe]

And if commercial taxpayers don't exercise their rights; don't forget the possibility of some intelligent,progressive women getting tired to Municipal faults. That one will hit the establishment like a good sound two by four.

[toe]

The CP rail oil loading facility within the extremely poor choice of location has doomeEstevan City limits appears to be running into the stiffest opposition. Its doomed; but the CPR will stonewall to the very end.
Crescent point probably has the new "20 million" terminal on the Stewart rail shortline. Is it CN or CP that goes as far as Stoughton that joins with this line?
If CN is out manoevering CP on rail oil hauling; then this race will really heat up.

[toe]

I've been thinking of the expertise and knowledge that we are all missing because some of the readers of this forum might not also be regularly contributing their posts. Everyone please consider sharing the information that they have learned so that we may all become a little more enlightened.
Is it not infinately better to have your public written statements and opnions discussed than have baseless viscious drivel passed around at the local watering holes and coffee shops.

[toe]

Some of the rest of the story is that no one from the RM Enniskillen will/can give any details. And that includes the councillor for the division that includes the largely abandoned hamlet of Northgate Sask. No one apparently knows how many lots the RM has accumulated through unpaid taxes, but its probably safe to say that an unknown offer amount (to someone whose name will not be repaeted) has been entertained (behind some closed doors); and that offer is in the "lawyers hands". I don't think there was any tender or disclosure of intent to offer for sale etc. by the RM.
This might be real interesting. Since Corus Land Holding Corp had to get Sask Farmland Security Board approval to purchase up to 8 quarters of Farmland; what kind of approval do you need for a "non-Canadian entity" to potentially buy a hamlet (that coulddevelop into a village or even a town). The Land Titles (ISC) plan shows a suprisingly large area (maybe 25 or more acres) of surveyed lots within SE6 1-2-W2 and into the SW6-1-2-W2 right up to the CNR Railbed property. It is quite impressive. Remember that Corus asked for a facility.
There is also the possibility that the RM property lots are being sold to someone other than Corvus, since they might well have needed permission to effectively buy a potential town. Maybe some middlemen will get reimbursed in some way.

And no one on council appears to have any intention of declaring or advertising their interest or relationship to any of the land on either side that would adjoin the CNR railbed property all the way back to the old Elcott elevator site at grid 603. I will certainly leave everyone to draw their own conclusions; but I hope it is safe to say that if council members have not been careful they could have left open the perception that a conflict of interest was possible.
I will point out that the first 8 quarters north of the 49th parallel that adjoin the CNR rail bed go all the way just past the former Elcott elevator siding; and there you have the hub of #9 highway and Grid 603 all converging at that point.


Look on Google Earth, consult Land Titles (ISC) and especially RM maps for your details. Join the dots yourself too.
There is also reported to be what looks to be a pipe yard and short conveyors on new construction adjacent to CN rail beds at Bienfeit.
That all ties in with the possibility of again rebuilding the CNR link to join Willmar, Bienfeit, and Corus facility directly to Northgate ND USA.
And finally for this post; one of my sources within the oil industry says there is speculation that a new gas processing plant facility is possible in the area. With gas prices plummeting; that doesn't automatically mean that there isn't even more money to be made in processing at a gas plant. Lots of room on 8 quarters for all that and more.

But its pretty hard to be involved when treated like mushrooms; and apparently we are only supposed to support and buy into a long term plan and vision for the future that develops directly from residents within the Town of Oxbow, the RM and I suppose the two hamlets which includes Northgate.

[cottonpicken]

I actually know the answer to quite a few of those
questions,i thought the answers where common
knowlege,maybe i was told in confidence,i'll get
back to to you toe or should i call you checking?

[toe]

I'm intrigued by how you acquired facts that we should both have been fully aware of. I know you weren't at the last six or so RM Enniskillen Council meetings as I have been; and I fully believe that if you acquired details from Council sources; someone, or Council is deliberately denying that same information to myself and the vast majority of those entitled to know.

Don't just tell me; tell everyone.

If you can't tell everyone; then you have provided yet another verifiable example of how Municipal governance should not be done.

[toe]

I did a search for the "cottonpicken" surname in SK,MB and AB. telephone directories. Not one telephone number came up. Perhaps that is your first name.

What shall I call you?.

You know I am really interested in what you have to say; and hopefully some day everyone else will too.

[toe]

Fogot to mention that CN is keeping their taxes paid up to date. Was told that is also the case with the Redvers Sask line. I don't think they did a decent job of resration and cleanup.

[checking]

Sorry, cotton. That's another "if" on your part that means "it's a fact". Again, it's why I don't see eye to eye with you.

I'm aware of my limitations, and I could not string together a series of "toe" posts, but thank you for "iffing" that I could.

Corvus was wrong. "sorry" usually takes the string off of saying you are wrong, "if" you say it first.

In your case I wish to formally retract saying "sorry" to you.(lol)

Now, you can go back to calling everyone on Agriville "idiots" for not seeing what you see.