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0 - 0 <br />business. Miami and Jacksonville will become mainline import/export seaports for <br />distribution into the northwest corridors through the agreement with FEC and ConRail. This <br />should change the amount of freight being moved by the railroads. <br />Chairman Tippin recalled that at a MPOAC statewide meeting on transportation in <br />Orlando when a strategic plan was being developed, the railroad representatives were there, <br />except FEC. It was the first time ever that the railroads had been asked to sit with all the <br />others involved in statewide traffic planning. Finally, in the development of strategic <br />planning, they are beginning to realize there is a statewide problem with transportation of <br />goods. He thought this could be a beginning for hope to have a little influence with the <br />railroad. <br />Vice Chairman Macht reported that an FEC official was at the Intermodal Summit. <br />The Board of County Commissioners has been asked to designate a representative to the <br />Intermodal Convocation that will begin meeting in August. He was expecting to receive a <br />FAX/memorandum about it in the near future. <br />Commissioner Adams hoped that would work out. Because FEC rails bisect every <br />community on the east coast right down the middle and the FEC is clever about staggering <br />their renewals throughout the year, communities tend not to band together to object to the <br />fee increases. <br />MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Adams to approve <br />option 1 (continue to withhold payment on current and future <br />billings to the FEC and explore a legal remedy to the lease <br />rates). <br />Commissioner Ginn advised that she was concerned because the memorandum had <br />said that option 1 may end up costing the County a lot more. . <br />Vice Chairman Macht asked if there was an appeal process the Board could initiate, <br />and Administrator Chandler replied in the negative. He stated that was why the County, <br />through its Attorney and Public Works Director, had contacted several cities on the east <br />coast. <br />County Attorney Vitunac thought that the best hope is that sometime the railroad will <br />need something from Florida, and Florida, at the state level, will then make a trade that the <br />railroads will give up some of their rights on these easement fees in return for whatever the <br />June 23, 1998 <br />41 <br />6C" K ! U�,J Fret JLs <br />