Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Kingsbury Rail Bot topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
LaPorte County extends rail agreement, receives initial repayment toward $525,000 rail investment
Summary
The LaPorte County Redevelopment Commission approved an amendment to a Build‑Operate‑Transfer agreement to align operating periods with a switching agreement, and heard that JBC Rail made an initial repayment of about $51,000 toward the county's $525,000 rail extension investment.
Adam Koronka, president of the LaPorte County Redevelopment Commission, opened the meeting Dec. 10 as commissioners considered a proposed amendment to an existing Build‑Operate‑Transfer (BOT) agreement tied to Kingsbury Industrial Park rail operations.
Attorney Guy DiMartino told the commission the amendment revises the BOT’s definition of the operating period so it aligns with the separate rail switching agreement, an alignment the county and JBC Rail say is necessary to allow both agreements to come due at the same time. "The operating period was set to conclude at the end of the current year," DiMartino said, explaining why the term needed adjustment.
Kim McDonald, owner of JBC Rail, updated the commission on repayments and operational progress. McDonald said a recent payment of approximately $51,000 was made toward the county’s original $525,000 investment in the rail extension and that the project is approaching Class‑3 railroad status, which would enable additional switching revenue. "Reporting will occur at least quarterly," McDonald said, describing the cadence JBC Rail will use to keep the county informed of costs and expected repayments.
Mark Parkman moved to approve the BOT amendment extending the term of the agreement to August 2028; Connie Gramarossa seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Why it matters: The county provided $525,000 to construct a rail extension meant to support switching operations at Kingsbury Industrial Park. Aligning contract terms and establishing a repayment schedule are intended to enable long‑term revenue flows to offset the county’s investment.
What’s next: Commissioners approved the amendment and required quarterly reporting. County staff and JBC Rail will monitor the rail’s transition to Class‑3 status and the agreed repayment schedule.
