Amador County – Ione money woes last week compounded concerns about a lease expiring on the city-owed Train Depot, which sits on Union Pacific land that is leased by the city.

The land and Depot have harmful materials including asbestos and lead-based paint that must be removed by May 3 when the lease expires, or the railroad can have the building demolished and then bill the city. Ione City Council members leaned toward moving the Depot to the city corporate yard nearby.

Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said it was “never an ideal contract, but it was the only way to save it or they were going to tear it down.” The council could get an extension from Union Pacific if they get a source for $50,000 in funding to mitigate the site and submit a plan for the work.

Bonham said as much as they want to keep the building in its original location, it would probably come down to moving it, and the timeline would be centered on having good weather to make the move.

Mayor Ron Smylie said he likes the Depot, and his vision is to see trains run to Jackson. He said it would be good to see if benefactors could raise the money, and he supported making a “pitch to Union Pacific to buy us some time to raise money. We’re not going to squeeze our budget for the building right now, when we’re having trouble paying salaries.” He also wanted to see competitive bids.

Thornton Consolo said Amador County Historical Society has benefactors but also needed to see a plan. He said the lease committed Ione to spending money.

City Manager Jeff Butzlaff said maybe they could get 6 months to a year extension by fronting gas tax funds to guarantee the money, but “if we wait until we raise the money in the community, we are not going to get this done.”

Bonham said she wants to save the structure but not at a time when the city is talking about not even having its swimming pool. She did not support paying the costs with gas tax funds. Smylie said “I don’t think there’s any doubt that we want to save this building.”

They asked the Historical Society and Collin Frost’s Amador County Historic Railroad Preservation Society to write letters of support, and asked staff to formulate a timeline for different plans with costs.

Frost said Union Pacific needs an act of Congress to shut down a rail line, but if the funding was there, they would convey the land to his foundation. He said they would rather give it to another short-line service than abandon the 3-mile spur.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.