The city of Chillicothe anticipates increasing its railroad budget for the upcoming year with a total of $83,429 proposed to be spent, compared to last year’s budget of $25,279. On tap for the new fiscal year which begins April 1, will be the replacement of some railroad ties for the north end of the line and the purchase of a skid steer loader to help with maintenance of the line south of Chillicothe.

Motive Rail, which is the city’s contracted railroad operator, has requested the purchase of 300 railroad ties and other railroad material amounting to $18,450. The material will be used for the north end of the city-owned railroad which connects to the Canadian Pacific line (operated by the IC&E) and feeds into the industrial park.

Also in the proposed budget is $40,000 to be used for the purchase of a skid steer loader to help with maintenance and drainage-related issues for part of the line that extends south of Chillicothe. The maintenance is necessary to keep the line under control for possible future industrial needs, according to Hugh Musselman who presented the budget to City Council members during a budget workshop Monday night at City Hall.