State representative says rail-trail must be protected before supporting potash rail reinstatement

A state representative told the Clare County Board of Commissioners that he will not back a letter of support for a proposed potash-plant rail reinstatement until the Michigan Department of Natural Resources provides written assurances that the county27s rails-to-trails corridor and trail assets will be preserved.

"The trail can't go away," Representative Kuntz said, urging that any restoration plans include public meetings, environmental analysis and explicit protections for the trail before county endorsement. The representative said he and a senator independently declined requests to sign letters supporting the project until the DNR provides written confirmations.

Kuntz described prior interactions with state agencies and noted the Department of Energy is reviewing a substantial loan-guarantee application tied to the project. He said core samples and permitting details would be necessary for him to consider support and emphasized that relocation or restoration work could require extensive bridge and right-of-way reconstruction that would carry significant costs.

Commissioners questioned how much existing state and local investment would have to be relocated if rails were reinstated, whether right-of-way is sufficient to allow parallel trail use, and who would be responsible for relocation costs. The board and Kuntz discussed FRA/CRISI grants, WATCO and the West Michigan Railroad as potential operators and the interplay between state rail ownership and local trail assets.

Kuntz cautioned against government "picking winners and losers" without clear long-term benefits for the broader community and said he would monitor the project but not sign on to a letter of support without written DNR assurances and answers to the board27s questions.

The board did not act on the request during this meeting; Kuntz and county staff urged further information and public meetings as the next steps.