Baxter council disapproves MnDOT overpass plan with seven conditions, 3-2

The Baxter City Council voted 3-2 on a resolution declining municipal consent for the Minnesota Department of Transportation(MnDOT) proposed grade-separation at trunk highway 371 and highway 210, but tied that disapproval to seven conditions MnDOT must accept in writing to convert the decision into municipal consent.

The vote concluded a lengthy public meeting in which council members traded sharply different views about safety, local business impacts and the cost and appearance of a design that places a large retaining wall near Baxter—enter. Mayor Brad called the item and reminded the council the city has until Feb. 1 under Minnesota statute to act on MnDOT's request for municipal consent.

Why it matters: The project comes with a state funding offer of roughly $58 million toward addressing a long-standing safety and traffic issue at the 371/210 intersection. Supporters called the funding a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reduce crashes and long-term costs; opponents…