Military Ave. roundabouts reconsidered

GREEN BAY - With a 7-5 vote on Tuesday the Green Bay City Council agreed to go ahead with a plan to build six two-lane roundabouts on Military Avenue. Each would be similar to the one on the east side of the De Pere bridge.

But now, one council member is willing to reconsider his vote.

"I'm still committed to the roundabouts," said Alderman Tom Weber. "I think it is the proper thing to do for the citizen."

Weber says it would take a lot for him to change his vote but he decided to take the reconsideration path to avoid another possibility, a veto by the mayor.

"He understands the consequences of a veto. He knows it is not a good thing. But we don't see the issue the same way and he was struggling with that," said Weber.

"I could have vetoed this but we need to respect the council that's why I made the effort to talk to them and say, 'why doesn't somebody bring this back to take about it a little bit more,'" said Mayor Jim Schmitt.

Roundabouts are promoted by experts as being faster, safer and less expensive than traffic lights.

Schmitt says he is not against roundabouts but doesn't think they are the best fit for the traffic volume on Military. He says if the he had to break a 6-6 tied vote by the council he would vote against the roundabouts.

Those who are in the majority for now say they don't think it will come to that.

"It's going to take a lot to convince myself and I think it's going to take a lot to convince the seven who voted in favor for them," said council president Chris Wery. "I want to hear some factual things other than I don't like them."

Mayor Schmitt says he plans to hold a special meeting for the Military Avenue project later this week, possibly Thursday. At the meeting, members of the public will be able to voice their opinions again.