By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
On March 25, all members of the Archbold Village Council met for a special work session to discuss whether to accept state funding so the village can proceed with the State Route 2/Township Road 24 roundabout project.
Resolution 2025-12, authorizing the village administrator to enter into a contract with Tetra Tech Inc. to complete preliminary development, final design, and construction plans for the roundabout, was put on hold at the March 17 village council meeting.
Village Administrator Aaron Alt opened the informal work session by posing a question to the council: “Where do we go from here?”
Unknowns included whether the four-way stop could remain, given its effectiveness as a safety measure, and what the consequences might be for future grant funding if the roundabout project funds were declined.
“It was critical that you have the right information before you before we say either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the matter, simply because these are federal funds that we’re talking (about) and proceeding with that contract and then pulling the plug on it somewhere in between, more than likely we would be required to repay everything that we spent up to that point and not just the 90 percent 10 percent share,” Alt began.
“A lot of this comes down to facts versus opinions and I feel it’s necessary that Council and the mayor all have the right information before you to make the right decision, what you feel is best for the community, certainly taking in the opinions and feelings of the public, but also factoring in the actual facts of what we have before us,” Alt added.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
To date, the roundabout project expenses include a $26,500 safety study, with $5,000 paid by Zaremba Group on behalf of Dollar General, and the village covering the remainder.
The March 2024 safety study recommended converting the then two-way stop intersection into a single-lane roundabout, which would cost approximately 3.7 million dollars.
If approved, the project would begin May 1, 2028, with a completion timeline of 90 days. As a temporary safety measure, the village converted the intersection to a four-way stop in the fall of 2024.
A federal grant through ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, which has been awarded to the village, would cover 90% of the design and construction costs of the roundabout, with the remaining funds provided by the village – around $400,000-$500,000.
With added inspection costs not covered by the grant of around $228,000, the village’s total share could be around $722,103.
The council turned to Christopher Waterfield, District Traffic Engineer for ODOT District 2, who was in attendance via video conference, for answers. Waterfield has served with ODOT for 31 years and held his post as traffic engineer for over 20 years.
Waterfield said his team’s goal is “identifying and implementing proven safety countermeasures, improvements that we can make to address preventable traffic crashes…We want to make a difference, we want to save lives, whether that’s our roads or your roads, all public roads are eligible for safety funding right now. It’s not always been that way.”
SAFETY STUDY INFORMATION
The ODOT rep cited a five-year-old comprehensive study of more than 50 intersections in the state.
The study found that converting 2-way stop intersections to all-way (or four-way) stop control led to a 36% reduction in all crashes, 42% reduction in injury crashes.
“This is what can be expected if the four-way stop stays in place,” Waterfield added. Since Fall 2024, there have been no accidents at the intersection.
Addressing the current four-way stop configuration, Waterfield noted, “The four-way stop can stay…it’s backed up in your study. The four-way stop is warranted – that is an option. I don’t think it’s the best option – but it’s definitely an option.”
In contrast, converting two-way intersections to a roundabout configuration has been shown to reduce crashes by 71% and severe or fatal crashes by 82%, according to statistics. “Obviously that comes with a higher price tag,” remarked Waterfield.
ODOT has constructed several roundabouts in District 2, including some similar to the one proposed in Archbold.
While no roundabouts have been built in Fulton County yet, plans are underway for one at State Route 108 and County Road D, south of Wauseon, and another at State Route 109 and U.S. Highway 20 near Delta.
The proposed Archbold roundabout can be designed to accommodate semis and farm equipment. Mayor Grime mentioned an example of a tractor pulling three grain wagons to the Gerald Grain Center elevator and asked whether the roundabout design could accommodate such a long vehicle.
“Obviously, we’re a farming community and they need to be able to navigate this,” added the mayor.
According to Waterfield, ODOT has previously constructed a roundabout to accommodate a combine with the header removed.
“If you’ve got anything longer or wider, Tetra Tech has lots of experience designing roundabouts…but we can accommodate any size design vehicle you want.”
FUTURE FUNDING
Moving to money matters, Alt raised questions about funding, asking if keeping the four-way stop for now would impact future state or federal funding if a roundabout is needed later.
Waterfield explained that if the village wanted to request funding for the project in the future, they would need to obtain a new crash study with three additional years of data and go through the application process again. Or, the village could fund the entire project on its own.
Alt also asked if declining funds now would affect perceptions of the village’s seriousness about proceeding with projects. Chris responded by likening it to repeatedly asking someone out on a date and facing rejection—eventually, the conversation could end.
Waterfield explained that the review committee often asks whether the project has local support, especially from the county, city, village, or township.
Those reviewing grant funding requests want to know how many roundabouts the county has and what public acceptance looks like, noting that resistance is expected if it’s the first roundabout in the area.
Councilor Babcock asked if the state could mandate the village to construct the roundabout in the future, to which Waterfield responded, “If there are continued problems the state has an obligation to get it done.”
“We want to support you in your efforts to improve traffic safety. We want to get rid of the death and the serious injury accidents, and we want to help you pay for it,” Waterfield added.
Councilor Ball asked whether the village’s $228,000 additional inspection cost could be covered by grant funding if the project moved forward. Waterfield explained that historically, grants did not cover inspection expenses.
However, he recently learned of policy changes allowing inspection costs to be considered for funding. If the village applied and was awarded the additional funds, it would reduce the village’s share of the project back to the $400,000-$500,000 range.
PROPERTY OWNER IMPACT
Potentially impacted property owners include ConAgra, Marathon, Dollar General, Douglas & Norma Kauffman Trustees, DCH Properties, LLC, and Parkview Medical Center.
Alt noted that Conagra supports the project as they recognize it will benefit their truck traffic. Referring to the preliminary design footprint, Councilor Babcock asked if a turn lane into Conagra would be incorporated for westbound truck traffic.
Alt said current plans do not currently call for that, but the possibility is being discussed.
Alt mentioned public sentiment regarding the project on social media, “I know I saw on Facebook that somebody thought that Dollar General is going to have to go, and the gas station would have to go.”
However, that’s not true. “It’s (the property owner impact) so minimal,” Alt added.
Mayor Grime mentioned that upon acquisition of its property, Dollar General was fully aware that the intersection could potentially be improved in the future and situated its building accordingly.
Engineer Krueger noted that prior to Dollar General’s construction, additional right-of-way space was acquired by the village for future improvements to the intersection.
PUBLIC CONCERN
Councilor Kern shared his concern about public opinion for the project. “I’ve talked to a lot of people. Not one person is in favor of roundabouts… Do I listen to the people who vote for me, or do I do what I think is best?
Kern went on to say it’s “hard for me to support it after – I know it’s a small sampling – NOBODY says ‘yes, I want that roundabout.’”
“It’s all based on not having the facts,” Mayor Grime commented. Mayor Grime pointed out the past project at Defiance Street and Lutz Road as an example.
“Not one single person wanted to see that intersection improved with a turn lane…Council went ahead, and it turned out to be the correct decision.”
FUTURE THINKING
Councilor Karla Ball offered, “I think we have to be mindful about – we’re not just looking at what traffic is flowing through that intersection today. Yeah, the four-way stop is working right now.”
“But we—three years ago, we wouldn’t have been even thinking there would be a Dollar General on that corner. And we don’t know what could happen to that farm ground to the southwest…Who knows what might be coming down the road in five or 10 years…”
Ball continued, “If we’re in a position where we’ve got this kind of funding available to us, I think we’re making a split-moment decision based on people in the community going, ‘you know, I don’t like roundabouts.’”
“We have to be mindful about this community not being done with growth, and we don’t know what’s coming down the road.”
“And if we continue to grow out that direction with more and more, we’re going to have more traffic flowing through that intersection.”
STRYKER STREET REBUILD
Councilor Babcock asked how the roundabout could save the village millions of dollars down the road as it relates to a future rebuild of Stryker Street.
Alt emphasized the significant benefit of the roadway rebuild, noting that the Stryker Street reconstruction has remained a five-year capital project for the past 25 years.
The roundabout project involves reconstructing up to 2,000 feet of roadway on Stryker Street, or roughly ⅜ to ½ mile.
Village Engineer Krueger explained that if the four-way stop is kept indefinitely, and Stryker Street is later rebuilt per the 5-7 year plan, it could cost the village $2 to $2.5 million, compared to $500,000 if the roundabout is constructed using grant funds it has been offered.
“And that’s where getting it paid for, 90 cents on the dollar, I see as a huge benefit as opposed to us (the village paying for it),” Krueger added.
“That’s where we see the cost savings right now, is by taking advantage of the fact that the roundabout includes this much additional roadway being rebuilt as part of it.”
Alt summed up his position, “…I guess in my mind, the reason I support it is, it is a corridor. It is an artery into Archbold.”
“I see this being a tremendous opportunity for any landowner in the area to prosper and to see good growth for our community because of what they own there and what this roundabout can do.”
“I understand the opinions of ‘well we don’t need one, why would we waste the money,’ but I see the bigger dollars…A small investment now is going to save us a lot down the road,” Alt concluded.
ENSURING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING
Councilor Gary Dominique raised concerns about the need for a roundabout if the four-way stop improves safety at the intersection, stating, “I guess you said to state the facts.
Well, the facts are, we saw the issue at the intersection. A study was completed, and it said we need to do something. We put in four-way stops, and the facts show, as of now, there have been zero accidents.”
Mayor Grime pointed out that the intersection has been a four-way stop for only a few months.
Councilor Ball countered, “Council also has the facts that the project is 3.7 million-ish but the village’s funding share is a fraction of that to do the project that will save the village money in the long run when the Stryker Street rebuild will eventually have to be done.”
“So we can’t just stop at ‘have we put in four-way stops?’ ‘Has it improved accidents?’ Yes. We can’t stop there because it’s not all the facts. That’s like two pieces of the full puzzle…”
Ball continued, “I think the roles that we serve here are not just looking at what we are doing today, but what’s going to happen in 2 years, in 4 years, in 5 years…what projects do we need to be thinking about…”
“We’re always having to look forward, and to me those are as valid facts as there haven’t been any accidents since we put in the four-way stop.”
Councilor Bentz added that he feels that the safety data needs to be emphasized to the public. “All it’s going to take is one person running the stop sign, and it would be a disaster…The data shows they (roundabouts) are the safest. To me, that’s more important than the ‘I believe,’ I think, and ‘I don’t like.’”
Councilor Eicher, who indicated he has driven semi trucks for 27 years, added that truckers he knows appreciate roundabouts due to less wear and tear from starting and stopping, as well as improved gas mileage.
“Sure, it’s something new, but guess what? This isn’t 1974. This is 2025. We have to adjust to what’s coming for the future,” Eicher commented.
Councilor Ball emphasized the importance of the public having all of the correct facts. “We need to have conversations about the facts in public sessions so we can get the details out there.”
Following the council’s discussion, Mayor Grime opened up the conversation to members of the German Township Trustees who were seated in the audience area.
Trustee A.J. Short inquired if any roundabout studies address what accidents look like or how they are handled.
Before concluding the work session, Councilors Dominique and Kern requested that the village engineer provide traffic volume data from the other upcoming roundabout projects in Fulton County, as well as from Henry County’s State Route 34/Township Road 24 project for comparison.
The next Archbold Village Council meeting is set for Monday, April 7, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers, where it is anticipated that the roundabout matter will be voted on by the council.