Council has concerns about 'roundabout'
Meg Alexander — Staff WriterFAIRMONT - Fairmont City Council doesn't appear to be sold on a roundabout to fix the traffic situation at Johnson Street and Highway 15.
However, with only two council members and the mayor present at Monday's meeting, any decision has been postponed until later this month.
"I don't disagree with the need to make a change at that intersection," said Councilman Joe Kallemeyn, "... but $600,000 on our part? ... I don't think the benefits are worth $600,000."
That's half the cost for a roundabout, with Minnesota Department of Transportation offering to pay the other half. The work would be done this summer, at the same time Johnson Street is reconstructed.
Instead of paying $600,000 for a fancy roundabout, why not put up a few signs and make the area into a school zone to protect the students at the nearby junior/senior high school, Kallemeyn suggested.
Public Works director Troy Nemmers said he had a similar conversation with MnDOT officials, and they weren't receptive to the idea of slowing down state highway traffic for a school.
"Why?" Kallemeyn asked. "A roundabout would slow traffic 24 hours a day, seven days a work versus a school zone that would only be in effect part of the day. ... What's their logic? ... You're slowing traffic down either way."
At the public hearing Monday for the 2010 improvement program, the public response to building a roundabout was divided.
"I don't agree with it, and probably a lot of other people don't," said Lowell Flohrs, a resident concerned with the cost of a roundabout.
Flohrs also had concerns about traffic, from elderly drivers to large semi-trailer trucks, navigating through the circular intersection.
"Four stop signs would be a lot cheaper," he said.
Fairmont Medical Center administrator Stephen Pribyl, on the other hand, likes the idea of a roundabout.
"I admit at one point I was skeptical," he said. "What sold me was taking 64 points of conflict down to 16."
Roundabouts are praised by traffic engineers for being the safest means of navigating intersections - better by far than stop signs or lights, especially for pedestrians.
Resident Kate Billett is sold on the concept and believes drivers would soon adapt.
"I believe the people of Fairmont are smart enough and intelligent enough to figure out how to use a roundabout and understand the improved safety aspect," she said.
Councilman Harlan Gorath agreed roundabouts take some getting used to, but they function well. That said, there are better ways to spend $600,000, in his opinion.
"I have to be convinced a little more about the positive aspects of a roundabout," he said.
Comments Monday pertained mainly to roundabouts during the public hearing for this summer's street projects.
Improvements include:
o Reconstructing Johnson Street from Prairie Avenue East to Highway 15 South. Affected property owners will be assessed $75 per frontage foot;
o Resurfacing portions of East Belle vue Road, Becky Lane and Second Street. Assessment is $50 per foot.
o Overlaying parts of Main Street and Sylvan Drive. Assessment is $30 per foot.
o Sealcoating parts of Adams, Albion and Winnebago avenues; Budd Lake Drive; Anna, Day, Hampton, Tilden, 12th and Willow streets; and Lair Road. Assessment is $2 per foot.
