MOUNT JEWETT — Round three of the MJ2KB T(rails) Intelliconference wrapped up last week, and with rail salvage operations already commencing south of Kane, time is of the essence for the club.

However, in the this round, anonymity became optional and the gloves came off.

The club is looking to save the rails on the 3.9-mile section of the former Knox-Kane rail corridor between Mount Jewett and Kinzua Bridge State Park while also building a trail adjacent to the rails. Headwaters Charitable Trust of DuBois is in the process of acquiring the entire 73.8-mile corridor from Kovalchick Salvage Co. of Indiana. Headwaters’ executive director Janie French has remained staunchly against saving the rails.

When asked what actions are the participants taking to preserve the rails as individuals, Lowell Watts, owner of the Kane Family Drive-In, said he has had signs up on the drive-in property and has promised some financial backing to the club for the purchase of the corridor if they are able to raise the majority of the money. Watts does not seem to think either Headwaters or the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau are seeing the whole picture clearly.

“This would benefit all who are involved including ANF and Headwaters,” Watts said. “They just don’t have the vision or foresight as a private sector entrepreneur or business man would have.”

MJ2KB board member Tim Garity met with U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., about the possibility of saving the rails after initially speaking to the congressman at the Ridgway Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous last month. While Thompson admitted there was little he could do in Washington with no federal money going into any of the grants being used for acquisition of the trail, Garity reported that Thompson offered to speak with state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, about what could be done to save the rails.

The question as to what strategies and tactics the MJ2KB should be considering to save the rails arose, and while the answers varied, some demanded greater accountability from Headwaters and the ANF Visitors Bureau.

Ray Grabowski Jr. of the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society in Erie suggested that maybe legal action be brought against Headwaters. Grabowski thinks Headwaters is operating in opposition to its stated purpose.

“If they are supposed to be acting in the public’s interest,” Grawbowski said, “this forum has proven that they are not.”

Bill Belitskus of Lantz Corners said pressure needs to be put on French and ANF Visitors Bureau Executive Director Linda Devlin for “anti-democratic behavior” and their lack of support for blocking any efforts to save the rails. Belitskus said their behavior was nothing short of ironic.

“Devlin was just in the newspaper again touting the money tourism brings into McKean County,” Belitskus said.

When the conference members were asked who they knew who could possibly help, the majority of the group seemed to have exhausted their options.

While Dick Bly of the Kane Historic Preservation Society suggested someone contact the Donald Trump presidential campaign and make Mount Jewett a whistle stop as Trump sweeps through the country. Belitskus suggested focusing their efforts on the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Wilds, and Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, along with the McKean County Historical Society, who Belitskus claims “is not acting like a county historical society and supporting the county’s rail history.”

The final question asked for comments from anyone regarding the cessation of the rail salvage operation before it hits Mount Jewett. Club co-chairwoman, Dr. Karen Sees, said while Headwaters maintains the purchase of the rail corridor is a private transaction, a lot of public funding has went into their financial backing for the acquisition.

“In the case of their acquisition and development of the Knox-Kane Corridor, they are relying to a large extent on public funding,” Sees said. “The concept and details of the acquisition and its use is all about the public space and the community.”

Several people suggest speaking to Joe Kovalchick of Kovalchick Salvage Co. himself.

Hamlin Township Supervisor Ken Stroup recommended someone speak to Kovalchick to let him know the MJ2KB T(rails) Club is still interested in obtaining the 3.9-mile section of the corridor. Stroup’s wife, MJ2KB co-chairwoman Carolyn Stroup, agrees talking to Kovalchick directly may the answer. One anonymous participant also believes interacting with Kovalchick may be paramount to the club’s success.

“He seems to be a reasonable man to dialogue with and possibly partner with,” he said.

Meanwhile, Garity will continue to pound the pavement looking for anyone who is interested to whom he has not already spoken.

“Until I meet someone new,” Garity said, “I am still beating the bushes to find new contacts.”

The conference is being facilitated by On Track North America of Philadelphia.