Alright. Let's go on the record. This is the time set for hearing in the matter of the application for the city of Casa Grande for approval to construct a new at grade industry rail crossing on Ethington Road at Illinois Road in the city of Casa Grande. DACA number is RRDash021275, 225Dash0066. There might not be a zero in front of that. So 212758Dash25Dash0066. I'm an administrative law judge Brian Schneider.
I'll be presiding over this matter today. We'll start by taking appearances for the record for Casa Grande. Thank you. Brett Wallace, city attorney for the city of Casa Grande. Good morning. And, for Mountain States Contracting? Good morning, your honor. Ryan Hawkins for Mountain States contracting, Mountain States contract switching, and Industrial Railco LLC. Good morning. And for staff? You like all of, staff attorneys? Good morning. Jason Pike, staff grade crossing inspector. Good morning to you as well. Alright. Thank you for that. I do see a lot of people in the audience,
so I'm not sure if anybody is here to provide public comment, but I'll provide that opportunity at this time. I'm not seeing anyone waving their hands saying, yeah. That's why I'm here. Likewise, there's nobody, in front of me either on the line, on the telephone, or in video. So having concluded there's nobody here for public comment, we can close that part of the hearing. So let's start with the evidentiary, part, and, we can go with opening statements if the parties wish. And, again, I'll kinda keep the same order going. So, Casagrand, do you have any opening statements?
Thank you, honor. Casagrand doesn't have any, opening statements other than to support the application, obviously. I do have with me today Larry Raines, our city manager, who's available to answer any questions if anyone's staff wants to to do it, but we do think the the crossing, supported by, I think, the staff report as well as the city and railco, would be in the best interest of, the city and the state. Thank you for that. And, Mr. Hawkins, anything from you? Thank you, Your Honor. Nothing I would support, the position just put forward but also with me here today to provide anything that may be needed, I have mister Verne Vanderloo with Mountain States Contract Switching and Mountain States Contracting Inc.
And then I also have, mister Mac Smith with Industrial Rail Co. Alright. Thank you. Staff, any opening? Yes. Staff supports the application. It's in full agreement, with with all parties here. Beyond that, I don't have an opening statement, your honor. Thank you. Alright. Well, then, let's get right to it. If we have a witness to call, we're gonna do that now. Casagrand, are you gonna be calling any witnesses? We don't intend to call any witnesses unless, it does feel necessary. I think mister Hawkins has a few. That's what I figured from your opening statement, but, again, I'm just going in my order. So thank you.
Mister Hawkins, you're out. Thank you, your honor. We'll go ahead and call mister Verne Vandeleau. Perfect. Miss Vandeleu, why don't, yeah, it might be easier just to come up to is there a witness chair or wherever you're comfortable? I don't have to mark witness. Alright. Witness chair. It's Mark Witness. Before you sit down, though, I am gonna ask the court reporter to swear you in. So just, he might be on the screen. If you raise your right hand, take it away, sir. Sir, do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Yes. I do. Alright. The microphone was might not have been on,
so the answer was yes. Have a seat, get comfortable, and make sure the light is on for your microphone. And then Can you hear me? We can. Perfect. Appreciate that. Mister Hawkins, take it away. Is it better you want me here or at the photo? I don't care. Alright. Good morning, mister Vandellu. How are you? Morning. Good. Alright. Could you tell me, about who you are here representing? So I'm with, I'm the president of Mountain States Contracting Inc. Should I explain what our role is in this? Yes. Okay. We're the construction company that'll actually be constructing the crossing and the signals, that we're that we're discussing.
I'm also the managing member of Mountain States Contract Switching, which is the third party switcher who will be doing the switching of the cars back back and forth for railco, ultimately, for the industries that locate there. Thank you. And how long has Mountain States Contracting been operating in the rail business? Since 1983. K. And how long has Mountain States contract switching been operating in the rail business? Since 2020 k. I believe. And, you've been with Mountain States contracting for that entire period of time? No. I I started there in 1988.
Okay. And so what is your understanding of this project? It's a new rail crossing to open up industrial rail serve properties that can be developed. And if you could, explain Mountain State's contracting role in the new rail project. So, as a rail contractor, we we help design the crossing and then actually do the construction of the rail, the surface, the signals through the through the crossing. And what is, Mount State's contract switching's role in the project?
They will, switch the cars that from the Union Pacific to the individual industries that are on the west side of this of Ethington Road, back and forth as needed. And what is your understanding of the the need for this new railroad crossing? There's several industries. Some are are have already bought the property, and we're hoping lots lots more do, but that need rail service. And what are some of those companies that are operating out there that need the service? Well, they're not operating yet. The ones that, there's Kohler Industries that is on is on doesn't need the crossing,
but it's right there. There's Green Bay Packaging. There's NRS. It's probably all the ones I can talk about. And what is There's others that are interested, but I I probably not I can't mention those. And what is your understanding about who will be building this railroad cross sell? So Mountain States Contracting will be building it. Yes. And it'll be owned by Industrial Rail Co. Gotcha. And, who will be responsible for maintaining the crossing after it's built? Well, responsible will be at Industrial Railco, but we will be doing the maintenance for Industrial Railco once it's built.
And what are kind of the if you can or if we Mhmm. Are able to, kind of explain the standards or the safety standards that, the maintainers require to uphold. So all industrial rail has to adhere to FRA standards, 2.13 for track, and I don't know the exact number for signal. At the bare minimum, it requires a a monthly inspection of both the signal system and the track structure, and then any any maintenance beyond that. Right. The, the city and and the commission may have some questions for you,
but I think that's all I have for you. Thank you. K. Thank you. Alright. Well, I will ask, does the city have any questions? I have none, your honor. Perfect. And how about staff? Nothing, your honor. Alright. Well, you didn't throw me any curveball, so I don't have any questions for you either. Okay. I believe you can be excused as a witness. Thank you. Alright. Mister Hawkins, any other witnesses, sir? Your honor, we'll call, Max Smith with Industrial Railco. Same deal before you get comfortable. Please be sworn in. Mister Gaetzer, microphone's not on. Sorry? Sir, do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you. Perfect. Alright. I believe the light should still be on. Make yourself comfortable. Take it away. Good morning, mister Smith. If you could, just give us a little bit of history about Industrial Rail Co. Yeah. So we started in 2022 formally as a solution to getting in commercial institutional players rail off the Union Pacific line in Casa Grande. I'm the director of operations. And as Fern said, as we've gotten more and more people in the park,
we've needed more and more access. And Sir, can you get a little closer to the mic? I'm sorry to interrupt you. Thank you. As the park has grown, so is the need for rail, and that's why we're here looking at the crossing. And what will Industrial Railco's role be in in this Effington Road crossing? So in addition to being the landowner, easement acquirer, we're also the main interface between the users and the landowners in Union Pacific to ensure that the ITA is met, safety standards, maintenance standards. We work closely with mountain states to ensure that both the construction and the service
meet, you know, make everyone happy, so to say. And what will Industrial Railco's, involvement be after the crossing is constructed? So we will play a managerial role. Verne and his companies will be doing the work itself, but we will be ensuring that all of those things are met, kind of a belt and suspenders on top of the construction portion, the maintenance portion, and then also for the users to ensure that they're happy, Union Pacific's happy, etcetera. Well, Max, I think that's all my questions I have for you,
so we'll see if anybody else Let's do that. Let's see if anyone else has questions. Sir? No questions, Ron. Ron. Perfect, staff. Nothing, your honor. Likewise, I too have nothing. So you are excused. Thank you. I always say this when I'm not doing a securities hearing. These go a little bit smoother than than than what I'm a lot of times used to. Okay. Mister Hawkins, do you have any, further, witnesses? No, your honor. I do not. Perfect. I already know the answer about city staff. Would you have a witness to call? Yes, your honor. We call Jason Pike.
Perfect. Step right up. And, likewise, before you sit, be sworn in, please. Sir, do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you. Alright. You get comfortable. And, mister Gold, take it away. Thank you, your honor. Is there, perchance, a copy of the, staff report out there? There's not. Okay. Oh, thank you. Oh, thank you, your honor. Could you please state your name for the record? Jason Pike, p I k e. And where where do you work, and what do you do? I'm the grade crossing inspector with the state of Arizona,
the corporation commission. Okay. Thank you. And were you assigned to work on the application that we're here on today? Yes. And what did your work on the case consist of? I reviewed the crossing with the parties in the field, and reviewed the application, prepared the staff report. Okay. Thank you. And, you you you have a copy of the staff report marked exhibit s one in front of you, don't you? It is not marked yet. Oh, I see. But it is a it is the staff report? Yes. Okay. Thank you. And did you you didn't prepare it,
but you reviewed it, you said? I prepared it. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. So you prepared it. And, do you have any corrections at this time to make to it? No. Okay. And do you support, as of today, the the report and all the contents thereof and do your job? Oh, thank you. Your honor, at this point, I move to admit exhibit s one into the record. I don't give the parties an opportunity to object. I've I'm a betting man, so I don't think there will be. But, just either one of you, any objections? No objection. No objection, your honor. Perfect. Exhibit s one is admitted.
Okay. Thank you. And, Mr. Pike, do you, do you adopt the contents of exhibit S1 as your testimony today? Yes. I do. Thank you. And, will the construction of this crossing have any impact on public safety? Any adverse impact, I should say. I'm not sure I would know the answer to that, but I would say that the crossing protection that's in place is standard. It's like other, similar crossings in the state. Okay. Thank you. And and let's see. So in other words,
do you agree that the the crossing would meet all applicable state and federal standards? Yes. Okay. Thank you. And and that's standards for safety as well as other states? Thank you. Do you believe that the planned safety devices at the crossing are adequate to, protect the public safety? And I apologize, it's a bit repetitive. Yes. Thank you. Do you believe that it's in the public interest that this application be approved? I do. Okay. And and does staff continue to support this project? Yes. Is there anything else you wanted to add as far as the this particular application
is concerned? Just one thing that the fifteen months we usually put on the on the timeline should be sufficient, based on what the applicant, put in. Okay. Great. Thank you. At this point, I have nothing further, your honor. Thank you. Alright. I'll get into the party to see if there are any questions, sir. No questions, your honor. Sir. No questions, your honor. Alright. Likewise, I I will let you off the hook without questions from me. So thank you very much, and your excuses witness. Alright. Any further witnesses from staff? No, your honor. Alright.
I believe, we're, reaching the end of the evidentiary part of the hearing. We can do closing arguments or statements, I guess, might be more applicable in this matter. So any anything to add or correct me if I'm missing anything, for the city, sir? Thank you, honor. We really have no other statements. I think that that as staff report showed, as the testimony showed, I think that this is in the public interest, and it will be a a safe crossing once approved. Thank you.
Is there any, final comments from you? Your honor, I would just reiterate that, you know, we believe it is in the the interest of the public to have this new rail crossing per the staff report. It will provide for the public safety. We also would like a finding that notice has properly been made and that we hope for an approval of of everything here. But if there's anything else that's needed, we're more than happy to provide. Thank you very much. And staff, any anything from you? Nothing other than to reiterate that staff supports this application,
your Honor. Perfect. Thank you. Well again thank you all. Like I said I very much appreciate the cooperation and the professionalism. I'll be taking this matter under advisement. I'll be issuing a rue recommended opinion order for the, commission, at a future open meeting. So keep your eyes and ears open for that, And, we are adjourned. Thank you all.