There are few things in Grays Harbor County that elicit a reaction from the public like the reaction to proposed roundabouts.

The City of Montesano is not insulated from that phenomenon, as was evident during the Jan. 10 city council meeting when several members of the public spoke to their concerns about a potential roundabout (also knows as a traffic circle). People addressing the council also had concerns about a potential rest area near downtown.

At its foundation, the roundabout is meant to alleviate current traffic issues near the Highway 12 offramp and the parking lot entrances of several businesses along the southern end of Main Street. The roundabout also would address future traffic issues and congestion brought by the influx of tourists if the rest area comes to fruition.

Samuel explained that the rest area could cost some $1.79 million. The mayor also plans to seek funding for a roundabout near the eastbound Highway 12 offramp across main street from Monte Square.

The compact roundabout alone could cost $425,000, however, more than one type of roundabout is being considered. A more expansive roundabout — referred to as a “modern roundabout” — could cost more than $1.6 million. Those are in addition to the cost of the rest area.

The rest area is being seen as a possible boon to the city, if it comes to fruition, by the Mayor who again brought the project to the city last year (a possible rest stop in Montesano has been pitched to city leadership for longer than a decade). Samuel has been the project’s most vocal advocate.

“We have a massive stagnation of sales tax — at least for the past five years,” Samuel said. “We’re not growing. We’re not horribly failing, but we’re not growing. And our expenses are growing.”

It’s hoped that the traffic drawn into Montesano because of the rest area will then spend money downtown. The rest area will be centrally located, about a block south of downtown.

Several residents voiced their opposition to the potential project, highlighting their concerns for safety, traffic and maintenance costs.

Former mayor Ken Estes addressed the council with prepared statements, outlining most of the concerns echoed by the rest of the residents speaking during public comment to the council later in the meeting.

“I urge the council to begin questioning the effect of a roundabout and the toilet stop which it will have on our city,” Estes said.

While most of the public comments opposed to both the rest area and roundabout, one member of the public spoke out in support.

Patrick Wadsworth, who lives just outside city limits, said the rest area is “a great idea.”

The city council has not opined either way how it would prefer to proceed.

Councilman Dan Wood said he likes roundabouts in general, but not the potential roundabout being pitched by the mayor.

“I like traffic circles — I just don’t like one there,” Wood said.

He is generally supportive of the rest area.

When Wood suggested the council should take a vote to indicate its support of either the rest area, roundabout or both, Mayor Samuel reminded the council of her authority to seek funding withouth council support. That reminder didn’t sit well with the councilman.

“You guys can take whatever vote you want to make a motion on, but I would say that I am not bound to that vote,” Samuel said.

“You believe you have the authority to make a request on behalf of the city without the blessing of the legislative body?” Wood said.

Samuel then reiterated her authority as Mayor to seek funding, also noting she couldn’t accept funding without council support.

“How do you think our legislative delegation will respond?” Wood asked.

He then made a motion.

“I move that we make a request for funding for the rest area, and not the traffic circle,” Wood said, emphasizing the word not.

After a short but tense pause, Samuel said, “The motion dies for want of a second.”

While the matter has elicited public input, much of the proposed project is preliminary. Samuel noted that $13,000 had been spent on a traffic study for the area, and a conceptual drawing was put together. Though there is a drawing and an idea of what the project could include, nothing is finalized.

“There’s still a lot of moving pieces here,” Samuel said. “There are potential changes that might occur, depending on cost and logistics.”

The mayor noted the support of legislators who could advocate for state funding in the upcoming state budget process.