Council authorizes sending $5,000 easement offer to Norfolk Southern for Marquette Greenway work

The Burns Harbor Town Council on a unanimous roll call authorized the Council President to sign and send an offer letter to Norfolk Southern that would provide access to easement property needed to finish Marquette Greenway Trail Phase 1B.

Council discussion focused on a $5,000 offer the town’s Redevelopment Commission (RDC) had approved to cover Norfolk Southern’s requested payment for access where trail construction and required silt fencing overlap rail-owned land. An RDC member explained, “we voted to pay $5,000 to the NS for the purchase of use of easement property,” and said the RDC cannot execute agreements involving property, so the council’s approval was required.

The presiding officer summarized the proposed letter and next steps: the offer would be open for acceptance until July 22; if Norfolk Southern accepts, the town would prepare a formal easement agreement, clear any title or survey requirements, and issue payment within 30 days of an executed agreement. The presiding officer said the signed offer letter would be packaged with the easement documents and sent electronically to Norfolk Southern.

A staff member confirmed the easement language had been prepared by Abba Marsh and would be attached to the offer. Council members discussed logistics for sending the package and agreed to copy town staff on communications so questions could be answered quickly.

The council’s action at the meeting was limited to authorizing the signing and transmittal of the offer letter; no final easement agreement was executed at the meeting. Next steps are for staff to send the signed offer to Norfolk Southern, attach the prepared easement documents, and proceed with title/survey clearing if Norfolk Southern accepts the offer.

The council adjourned at 6:11 p.m.