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Keokuk council advances ordinance to raise railroad bridge tolls to $70 per rail car
Summary
At a council meeting, the Keokuk City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance that would raise the railroad bridge toll to $70 per rail car (about a 90% increase) with 3% annual adjustments and a planned biennial review; the third reading was not waived.
The Keokuk City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance that would raise the railroad bridge toll to $70 per rail car, an immediate increase the council described as roughly 90%, with annual 3% increases thereafter and a requirement that the council review the schedule every two years. Chair introduced the ordinance as an alternative to a graduated rate structure proposed in a previous memorandum of understanding.
“This ordinance proposes an immediate, approximate 90% rate increase to $70 per rail car crossing the bridge with an annual 3% rate increases and recognizes the council will review this rate schedule every 2 years,” Chair said during the second reading. Council discussed the timing and noted the rate would take effect for crossings after July 1 under the proposed schedule.
Staff noted the need to consider funding for capital projects either upfront or through debt service and said a future memorandum of understanding with Keokuk Junction Railway is possible to underpin a combined bridge improvement project. Councilmembers voiced no objections during the roll call and the motion to approve the second reading passed.
Council declined to waive the third and final reading at that meeting, meaning the ordinance will return for a future session before becoming final. The council indicated there is not immediate urgency to finalize the change because the proposed rate would apply beginning July 1.
