A heartfelt "Thank you" goes to everyone here, especially Larry, in taking the bull by the horns and going straight to the top! Keep us posted on any response!
We were excited that Mr. Buffett would take the time to deliver the key-note address at the Montana Economic Summit in Butte a few years ago, and were impressed with his down-home remedy for issues with BNSF. He advised that if anyone has an issue with BNSF they should talk to Matthew Rose, the CEO. Interestingly, in his 2011 letter to Shareholders, Mr. Buffett relies on a quote from Ben Franklin regarding the societal obligation of regulated companies:
Many years ago Ben Franklin counseled, "Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee." Translating this to our regulated businesses, he might today say, "Take care of your customer, and the regulator - your customer's representative - will take care of you." Good behavior by each party begets good behavior in return.
The open letters to BNSF and Berkshire Hathaway in this thread very eloquently express the wish of this community to preserve the historic NP Depot. For several years now, the MCDARP team and the city have worked to convey to the BNSF folks how important this building is to our community. There is no doubt that this thread, along with the comments shared on the Miles City Depot facebook page will lend credence to our effort.
For those of you who wish to contact BNSF directly here are a few email addresses and phone numbers for the folks we have been dealing with along with contact information for those within the organization which, as some have stated here, may not be aware of how important this building really is to our community:
The author of the letter to the city is Mr. Richard Bartoskewitz who is the General Manager of the Montana Division. His contact information is:
Richard Bartoskewitz, General Manager (406-256-4035)
Montana Division
1555 Campus Way
Billings, MT 59102
[email protected];
MCDARP and the City have been working with:
Steve Kuzma, Manager (817-352-6135)
Shortline Abandonments,
Demolitions and Signboard Mgmt.
[email protected]Barbara Ranf, (406 443-2102 or 406 256-4047)
Exec. Director, Govt. Affairs
825 Great Northern Boulevard, Suite #105
Helena, MT 59601-3340
[email protected]Public Relations Contact:
Gus Melonas (206-625-6220)
Director, Public Affairs
The Land Revenue Management Division oversees the Shortline Abandonments and Demolition Department.
Dave Schneider, General Director (817-352-6469)
Land Revenue Management
[email protected].
Mathew Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
BNSF Railway Company
2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000
No email address given.
The county commissioners, the city council and mayor are working to obtain a delay in the May 1st date, while investigating other options to identify a win/win solution which will protect the community from liability. The MCDARP team also continues to pursue all opportunities to preserve the depot.
Preservation of the building makes sense from every perspective when weighed against the alternative. It is obvious this community prefers a beautifully preserved building, housing a profitable business which contributes to the socio-economic fabric of our community rather than an empty lot. An empty lot, which although zoned commercial, cannot be used as such given BNSF terms for leasing the land.