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Goodhue County approves design contract for County Road 66 roundabout
Summary
County commissioners approved a Stonebrook design contract to advance a proposed roundabout at County Road 1 and County Road 66; commissioners debated whether the $200,000 design fee should have been discussed outside the consent agenda and noted other intersections identified for study.
The Goodhue County Board voted May 20 to approve a contract with Stonebrook for design work on a proposed roundabout at the County Road 1/County Road 66 intersection, moving the project from planning into the engineering phase.
Commissioners debated whether authorizing design work — which includes approximately $200,000 of county‑level expense for engineering — merited more conversation than a consent‑agenda approval. One commissioner said the design fee "deserves more of a discussion" before committing county taxpayers to the expense and urged a fuller review of need and location. Staff told the Board the design work fits within the county's five‑year capital plan and pairs with a planned paving project, which makes it an opportune time to perform the roundabout work.
County staff said SRF Consulting performed a countywide safety study that identified four intersections with historic safety issues; planning and pavement timing made the County Road 1/66 location compatible with the current paving schedule. Staff also reported the construction phase is planned to use state aid funds, but the preliminary design expense would be the county's responsibility.
After discussion about traffic safety priorities and alternatives, a motion to approve the Stonebrook design contract passed with a recorded voice vote in favor.
The Board asked staff to continue studying other intersections identified in the county's safety review — including County Road 11 & County Road 62 in Pine Island and intersections near Sturgeon Lake Boulevard and Casa 6/Casa 1 — and to return with project sequencing and funding details.
