By Erik Potter, Post-Tribune staff writer
The Gary Chamber of Commerce is attempting to find a way to turn the much-maligned purchase of the EJ&E railroad by Canadian National Railway into a "win" for Gary.
The chamber's business development and public policy committees met with Canadian National representatives Friday to learn what Gary gains from the proposed sale and what could be done to benefit more.
The committee members pressed for specifics about economic development and job creation estimates for the city that CN representatives weren't immediately able to supply.
Adrian Muhammad, chairman of the chamber's public policy committee, said part of the blame lies with the city, which does not have a plan for reinvesting in the city's brownfields that it could plug CN's planned investment into.
Kevin Soucie, a CN spokesman, said repeatedly that "no community benefits more from this transaction than Gary," referring to the investment in Gary's Kirk Yard, which would triple the amount of trains it serves under CN.
"We're talking about millions of dollars of investment in Gary," Soucie said. "As we make the investment, we need people to work it."
Soucie said the Kirk Yard would function as CN's main Midwest rail classification yard, presenting an opportunity for future job growth.
But in a statement filed last October with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, the agency that approves railroad purchases, CN stated it plans to initially cut 50 of the 359 labor jobs at the Kirk Yard, Gary and Whiting through attrition.
Committee members pressed Soucie on the speed of its talks with the Gary/Chicago International Airport to relocate the EJ&E rail line that is blocking the airport's runway expansion.
Airport Director Chris Curry said the proposed EJ&E purchase has been beneficial since it has given a sense of urgency to the discussions.
Curry told the committee the airport is negotiating the final phrasing of a memorandum of understanding with the EJ&E, and could have a final agreement as soon as Monday.
Vince Galbiati, executive director of the Northwest Indiana Forum, who has been closely involved in the talks, agreed that a deal is near. "There aren't many sticking points left," he said, adding that all the remaining issues are resolvable.
Though CN was far from addressing all the Chamber's concerns, the committee chairmen were pleased with the willingness of CN to cooperate and of the committee to listen.
"When you get five different people representing four or five different views, what is the truth? And does that truth benefit everybody?" asked Muhammad.