Citizens Railroad Crossing Coalition was formed Oct. 8 over concerns about how railroad crossing permit fees are handled in Okanogan County, according to an announcement from the group.
     The next meeting is set for 7 tonight, Nov. 12, in the PUD auditorium. Committee members urged landowners with a railroad crossing to attend.
     An out-of-state company has worked on the fees on behalf of Cascade and Columbia River Railroad, according to the group.
     "Exorbitant permit fee and renewal fee charges, along with erratic and random imposition of the charges from one neighbor to the next, are behind the group's formation," the announcement continued.
     Railroad representatives were unavailable for comment.
     During the group's first meeting landowners with crossings shared their varying predicaments, ranging from thousands of dollars in fees to some who have never been asked to pay anything, according to the group's announcement.
     For some, the railroad pays to put in the crossings, while others are subject to significant charges to have the crossings installed, the announcement continued.
     The meeting, held at Okanogan County PUD headquarters in Okanogan, was attended by the Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient, and county commissioners Mary Lou Peterson and Andy Lampe.
     The committee has drafted a letter to be sent to the fee-collecting company seeking answers to several concerns:
     - The railroad's statutory authority to charge landowner crossing fees in order for people to access their own land.
     - The railroad's pricing policy and charges for everything ranging from new permits to renewals, lost permits and charges for repair and maintenance of crossings.
     The committee voted for Robert and Robin Bergh to serve as co-chairs and Kelly Buchert as secretary. All three will assist in day-to-day operations of the committee.
     More information is available at crcc08@gmail.com.