Railroad Activity

Witnesses have reported that the BNSF Railroad has been working south of Big Lake this week. Reports vary from actually raising the rail (using a machine that, in essence, sits on the rail, jerks it up, then forces rock under it to make it higher) to building up the sides of the railway with hundreds of loads of rock, maybe both. This could potentially have a serious effect on local residents and landowners if flood waters begin to flow into our area.

The railway that runs east and west along the south side of Big Lake creates a literal dam that blocks flood waters on the north side from draining. The higher the railway, the deeper the water, and potentially the further it spreads. BNSF is supposed to have permits in hand in order to do work to the railroad. These permits are supposed to be issued by Holt County, the Village of Big Lake, and/or MODOT, depending on where the work is being done. It is unknown if BNSF has produced evidence of any permits to date.

If you are a property or landowner in the area that may be effected by flooding, BNSF could be effecting the potential water depth on your property, and possibly not going through correct procedure to do so.

If you contact any authorities about this matter, please remember you will get much further with them if you are kind and professional.

• The County Commissioner is aware of the situation and is working on it. You may want to call his office to express concern and offer support. 
• You may want to call MODOT if you were effected by BNSF's work on the rail crossing south of Big Lake Wednesday. Ask if they had proper authorization to do the work and interrupt traffic while doing so. Ask what is being done to ensure BNSF is abiding by the same laws governing the rest of us.
• You may want to call FEMA and express concern over this situation and see what is being done about it. Again, is BNSF abiding by the law? And if not, what is being done about it?
• You may want to call state and national representatives and express concern over the way the Army Corps of Engineers has "managed" the dam and levee system in the last several years. On a national level, that would include Sam Graves, Roy Blunt, and Claire McCaskill. On a state level, that would include Mike Thompson and Brad Lager.