Hwy. 371 bypass route preferred

PEQUOT LAKES - Years of speculation and debate came to an end Tuesday as the Pequot Lakes City Council chose to have State Highway 371 bypass downtown to the east.

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More than 50 Pequot Lakes residents and business owners attended Tuesday's meeting in which the council, by a 4-1 vote, chose the alternate route bypassing downtown instead of a through-town route when Highway 371 is upgraded to four lanes in the future.

Originally slated for construction in 2010, the Highway 371 four-lane expansion project from Nisswa to Pine River has a tentative construction start date of 2015 or 2016. The impetus behind the project, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, is safety and mobility improvements. The estimated cost of the entire project is $90 million.

Pequot Lakes Mayor Cathy Malecha listened while city council member Tom Ryan (left) read of his opposition to a resolution in favor of an alternate route of State Highway 371 that would run east of the city's downtown. The city council passed the resolution by a 4-1 vote. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist» Purchase reprints of this photo.

The lone vote against the bypass was from council member Tom Ryan. Ryan, reading from a prepared statement, said that by passing the resolution, the council was ignoring those who would be affected by a bypass, including residents, business owners and others.

Ryan said the reasons for the alternate route expressed in the resolution were factually inaccurate, based on opinion and "downright deceptive." He said the alternate route will diminish value to businesses, will result in more severe vehicle crashes and the growth potential of the route won't be known for decades.

"If we take much of the emotion out of the decision, the benefits of a through-town route will prevail," Ryan said. "I can only conclude the integrity of this community is diminished today."

While other cities - Nisswa, Jenkins and Pine River - along the proposed Highway 371 four-lane expansion project have all favored a through-town route, Pequot Lakes has been of two minds on the issue.

In 2004, the Pequot Lakes City Council passed a resolution supporting a four-lane Highway 371 along its current path in downtown Pequot Lakes. The alignment was adopted as the preferred route by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

However, in 2006, the city council decided a four-mile bypass east of downtown should be studied. An Alternate Route Study Group, consisting of city council and planning commission members, took testimony at several meetings this year and determined there were no outstanding issues that would inhibit construction of a bypass.

Pequot Lakes resident and business owner David Kennedy on Tuesday addressed the Pequot Lakes City Council before the council passed a resolution supporting an alternate route of State Highway 371 to the east of downtown. Kennedy, a proponent of a through-town route of Highway 371, said the city needs business owners to strengthen the economic health of the city. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist» Purchase reprints of this photo.

Mayor Cathy Malecha said she's been working on the issue for seven years and in that time the city has invested countless hours studying maps and speaking with concerned residents and business owners.

She said she's heard from business owners who would support whatever decision is made by the council but are too afraid to speak up for fear of being ostracized by those who favored the through-town route.

"Some say if we go around town we're doomed. Those with vision see it as an opportunity," Malecha said. "Visitors say we're a destination. We've been told this council is against business. We will never be a destination by telling people we are doomed.

"We need to think beyond 'Me' and focus on 'Us. I can't see how our community ... can benefit in the long term if we cannot respect decisions made on behalf of all. These decisions are not easy to make and I believe this council has always made decisions for the betterment of the whole community."

Voting in favor of the alternate route with Malecha were council members Craig Nagel, Jim Oraskovich and Dave Sjoblad.

Nagel, who made the motion to approve the resolution for the alternative route, said he had been divided by the issue for some time. But when he looked at traffic projections for Pequot Lakes and safety for children and the elderly, his mind was made up.

"Keeping the highway through town and expanding it is like putting a driveway through your living room," Nagel said. "It doesn't make sense to me.

"It's not a happy issue because there is no one clean, final solution. Unlike most political tugs-of-war, this one doesn't have a lot of room for compromise. In the long haul, we're best served, the majority of us, by an alternate route."

Sjoblad, who seconded Nagel's motion, said he decided early on that the best thing for Pequot Lakes was for Highway 371 to go around town. After seven years of working on the issue, he said he hasn't changed his mind.

"I think it's the best thing in the long run for Pequot Lakes," Sjoblad said. "We need to work together to make this happen."

In his 29 years in Pequot Lakes, Oraskovich said he's seen businesses come and go and he's been impressed with the involvement of the businesses during the Highway 371 issue. He said everyone will need to continue to work together to make the city what they want.

"We have to realize a highway moves traffic. The alternate route is on the edge of town, the town will still be visible and it will be helpful to accommodate growth we see in the future," Oraskovich said.

Prior to the council's vote, Malecha allowed residents to offer comments on the resolution before the council provided it was new information.

David Canniff and his mother, Doris Canniff, whose property will be crossed by the alternate route, expressed their opposition to the bypass. David Canniff said he couldn't believe the council would vote for an alternate route even after the Brainerd Lakes Chamber recommended a through-town route.

Doris Canniff said the alternate route would affect the wildlife on her property. She also said she was upset the city hadn't discussed the issue with her family beforehand.

"It's not a fair deal," Doris Canniff said in a raised voice after the council took its vote and was on a five-minute recess. "We've never been told about this, ever."

George Johnson said moving Highway 371 to the east of downtown would affect safety and have a negative impact on businesses.

David Kennedy, a Pequot Lakes resident, business owner and school board member, said he grew up on land that will be bisected by the alternate route of Highway 371. He said the council needs to be careful because of the future impact of its decision.

"There's a fine line between hope and despair. We may be crossing that line tonight," Kennedy said. "We have to plan for the future, but we live in the present."

Not every comment offered was negative to the council's decision.

Shirlyn Bentley said that she lived in New York Mills when Highway 10 was expanded. She said the towns along that route are still vital.

Jack Schmidt said residents and business owners should show their appreciation for the city's work.

"You people are probably making one of the biggest decisions this town has ever made tonight," Schmidt said.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.