Greene County continues to deal with Union Pacific Railroad over unpaid work along the railroad right-of-way east of Scranton. County attorney Thomas Laehn updated the county supervisors on the possible litigation at their May 26 meeting.
The supervisors previously okayed Laehn hiring Hoyt, Morain and Hommer law firm to pursue the approximately $40,000 UP owes for repair work completed in DD 171 in Jackson Township. Laehn said the firm had sent UP a demand letter with a May 22 deadline. As of Tuesday, no response had been received.
The supervisors gave informal approval to proceed with litigation against UP. If the county prevails the railroad will have to pay the county’s legal fees. If UP never pays, the amount will eventually go back to the drainage district.
According to county engineer Wade Weiss, “the working relationship with Union Pacific Railroad has always been tough. There’s no doubt about it.”
He said there are many railroad crossings on gravel roads that are in disrepair. “We’re finally making some headway on that, and I don’t want to see that jeopardized because of this,” he said, referring to the disputed payment for DD171.
He said the county is paying for all the materials for work on the P-46 crossing being done as part of the road construction project. That amounts to $50,000. “I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. With the pavement being improved, paying for that (crossing) was the only way to get it done.”
He said he’s working with UP on the crossing on Spring Lake Road and Grimmell Rd in Jefferson.
“It should be noted that the county pays its bills to the railroad in a timely fashion. When they’re due, we pay them. It could be noted that we want that reciprocity,” Weiss said.
The Greene County supervisors, serving as drainage trustees, hosted a Zoom meeting with Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Guthrie and Webster counties to approve 2026 drainage assessments. The interest rate on stamped warrants was set at 6 percent.
Jamie Daubendiek updated the supervisors on the Bike Ride Around Greene held May 23. He reported 115 persons road, 80 of whom reside outside the county. Thirty came from outside of Iowa, some from as far away as Texas. “It was a regional draw with people coming from all over,” Daubendiek said.
The route started in Jefferson with stops at Spring Lake Park, 209 Main in Paton, 30 Yard Line in Grand Junction, and Public House in Jefferson.
He said riders spent an average of $50 in the county. He commended county engineer and the secondary roads department for placing signage in six different locations on the route warning motorists to watch for bicyclists.
