Bennington council drops roundabout

The Bennington City Council on Monday tried, in a roundabout way, to salvage enough of a controversial local roads project to secure federal funds.

Those concessions weren't enough for several who attended, including the organizer of a group opposed to the $4 million project, Bill Dunn.

The council rejected a “no-build” resolution his group supported to halt city efforts to modify a small stretch of road along 156th Street to slow traffic.

The “no-build” proposal would have limited the efforts to resurfacing the street with asphalt at the city's expense.

Instead, the four-member council voted unanimously to explore a scaled-down version without a controversial roundabout and traffic-calming curves.

The council also said it would seek more public input as the project moved forward and create a new advisory committee to study alternative options.

After the meeting, Dunn asked council member Kathy Higgins whether she planned to seek re-election. Higgins, whose seat is up this year, answered yes.

Pointing his index finger at her, Dunn said, “You won't stand a chance.”

He also hinted at exploring the possibility of a recall election to remove the entire council.

Before the meeting Dunn had said, “It's time to draw a line in the sand. There isn't one person on this council who can't be replaced.”

Longtime council member Terry Loptin, whose seat also is up, said he doesn't plan to seek another term.

Higgins acknowledged the frustrations many citizens share about the proposed work, its cost and its need. But, she said, walking away from the project would mean Bennington abandoned federal money. With federal funds, Bennington would pay 20 percent of the project's total cost.

It was unclear Monday what the new proposals would include or cost, and it's unknown whether the city's efforts still would be eligible for federal assistance.

Council member Dan Menke told the audience that a different look at the project is justified. “Let's not make a decision tonight and be done,” he said.

In addition to the roundabout at 156th Street and Bennington Road, the project also would redesign part of Bennington Elementary School's parking lot, widen part of 156th from two to three lanes, resurface the street, add additional sidewalks and a bike path and improve drainage.

For several months, the council has been at odds with many residents and Mayor Mary Johnson about the proposal.

Contact the writer:

444-3198, chip.olsen@owh.com

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