City Councillor Jon Orlikow says the city will be issuing a by-law infraction against the Railway [Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway] in regard to the eight huge metal silos on railway land adjacent to Linsday and Mathers in River Heights that were put up on or about September 13.

The land use regarding railways come under federal jurisdiction, as Orlikow explained, but the silos themselves aren't directly needed for the operation of the railway itself, and according to Councillor Orlikow the City has just recently decided to issue a by-law infraction notice to Fort Industries. Apparently the silos are for the storage of magnesium chloride "The silos are for storage and not needed to use the operation of the rail line itself," he said.

As such, Orlikow says the City is taking the position, as was decided very recently, that the placement of the silos on the railway property can come under the City's purview and they are issuing a by-law infraction notice.

"It will be up to the company to decide if they are going to fight this in court or not," Orlikow said.

Ultimately Orlikow says that it will be necessary to find a whole new location for the railway, that will enable the railway to increase its activity, without threatening the character of the neighborhood of River Heights. That would ensure that there is no expansion of the transloading facility which could involve potentially exposing residents to chemicals, or dangerous items.

The re-routing of the railway line will have to involve the Federal government and Orlikow said that he believes that "MP Joyce Bateman is coming on board" to help find a suitable location for the re-routing of the line

"We are looking at the idea of moving the railroad land to a location in Charleswood" said Orlikow, who believes this will be more suitable in the long term.

"To fund this move, the City would need to put in land-fill and ultimately sell residential lots on the land adjacent to Lindsey and Mathers that now comprises the railway," says Orlikow.

This would ensure that River Heights's character as a residential neighborhood is not undermined and would also be a suitable solution for the concerns of the railway.

Editor's note: Let's hope that Orlikow's proposal will come to fruition.