To the editor:
The roundabout issue at County Roads 40 and 8 was addressed in 2017 after a complaint of noise was brought to the attention of our district commissioner by a person in the neighborhood. The recommendation was turned down at that time due to opposition. And here we are, one more time, with a push for something that will be extremely expensive and, I believe, unnecessary.
I was born and raised in the area of County Road 8 and am quite familiar with the intersection. My husband and I have lived practically on top of the intersection for the past 45 years.
I’m a member of the Garfield Fire and Rescue and Responders. The intersection at 40/8 is in our territory. Our department approached the township with a request for rumble strips after installation of flashing stop signs and decreased speed signs did not seem to be the perfect answer. The year before the rumble strips were installed, we responded to nine accidents within that year. After the rumble strips were installed, only one accident in the past 3-4 years.
The noise of the rumble strips is actually music to my ears. Each time I hear it, I am confident another driver is reminded of the upcoming intersection and the need to stop.
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I feel a simple inexpensive working solution such as rumble strips certainly outweighs the unnecessary cost and expense of a roundabout. The commissioners need to reassess and reevaluate this project. At the very least, the public should have input before this moves forward. Using the excuse, to quote one of the commissioners, “Now we won’t have the noise anymore” just doesn’t cut it for the taxpayers!
Ardis Piper
Alexandria, MN
