Concerns about increased rail traffic in the community and its effects on public safety through the blocking of railroad crossings brought Gov. Mark Dayton to Coon Rapids Monday (Dec. 22) morning for a roundtable discussion.
But the session was not just about Coon Rapids’ problems. The roundtable comprised a couple of dozen people, including Mayor Sarah Strommen and City Administrator Kurt Ulrich from Ramsey and Big Lake Mayor Raeanne Danielowski, who spoke of similar issues in their community, plus officials from three railroads, the city of Minneapolis, emergency managers from Anoka and Hennepin counties, state commissioners of transportation, public safety and pollution control agency, state legislators (local and metrowide) and representatives from two railroad unions.
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