ROCHELLE — Following discussion at a Rochelle City Council meeting earlier this month coupled with some design changes will save the city over $130,000 for the proposed City of Rochelle railroad trans-loading yard.
Economic development director Jason Anderson appeared before council members Monday evening to recommend the city rescind the previously approved ordinance to purchase a little over two acres of land near Steward Road.
Anderson acknowledged the concerns given by council at the previous meeting and how it might set a precedent of higher land costs.
“Many of you weighed in on this discussion,” Anderson said, reflecting on the July 10 City Council meeting. “I went home and thought we might need to think this through a little more and find a different way.”

Anderson said after doing some investigating and working with Fehr Graham to come up with an alternative design, the proposed switching/trans-loading/storage facility will be about 700 feet longer.
“Although the land owner presented justification for the asking price, the questions raised by the council caused the staff to reevaluate the design and determine if it was possible to build the yard without the 2.21 acre parcel,” said interim city manager Sue Messer.
After further review, lengthening the tracks “will require less switching movements and increase the number of railcars that can be loaded per day.”
“Thinking it through, working with Fehr Graham, and coming up with a better design — we will save a lot of money and we will have even better results,” Anderson said.
Councilwoman Kate Shaw-Dickey expressed appreciation at the design review.
“Instead of just saying ‘they said it was good and we will move forward’ you took another look at it,” Shaw-Dickey said. “I think this speaks volumes to the things we will all hopefully be able to accomplish together.”