NEW ULM — Brown County commissioners review and commented on a Center and Garden Street intersection Tuesday.

The City of New Ulm hired the Bolton & Menk engineering firm to do a study on the intersection said to be very congested during certain times of the day with an above normal number of crashes reported.

Several alternatives were investigated to improve intersection safety. Existing conditions were reviewed, alternatives analyzed, public input received and recommendations made including a pedestrian underpass.

The intersection was identified by the City of New Ulm Safety Commission, Heart of New Ulm and Safe Routes to School Team as a safety priority due to proximity to multiple schools, pedestrian and bicycle activity.

No signal warrants are met but an all-way stop is warranted, according to the study. This option is not supported by City or County staff, but was added at the request of Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) staff.

“I definitely don’t want a stop sign down there,” said Commissioner Tony Berg. “A roundabout should move truck traffic to other roads.”

Commissioner Scott Windschitl said trucks would move slower through a roundabout and back up traffic.

A roundabout was considered at a cost $2.5 million in 2025 dollars. Mini-roundabout and signal costs are estimated at $1.8 million. An all-way stop is estimated to cost $940,000.

A city social media public input summary showed three comments with steep grade and roundabout concerns. Two comments supported a roundabout. One comment opposed all options shown.

One comment suggested a pedestrian tunnel, estimated to cost $1.3 million, for better pedestrian crossing.

A roundabout, said to reduce crashes by 72%, is the recommended concept.

Bolton & Menk Traffic Engineer Kelsey Larsen said traffic at the Center and Payne Street stoplight could back up into a roundabout, but only during peak traffic periods.

“I believe this is a great location for a (pedestrian) tunnel.

Commissioner Dave Borchert said he really thought a pedestrian underpass should be part of the project.

Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson asked if the city and county would share project costs.

“There are numerous grants and state funding opportunities now,” said New Ulm City Engineer Joe Stadheim.

Commissioners also:

• Awarded a $289,706.75 contract with Minowa Construction, Inc. for a 10′ X 10′ pre-cast concrete box culvert to replace a large metal culvert on CSAH 7 over Judicial Ditch 29. The engineer’s estimate was $371,071.95. The project set scheduled to begin on or before June 3, 2024 and be complete within 20 working days.

• Heard no public comments at a public hearing and adopted a Brown County Cannabis Ordinance, motion by Braun, seconded by Berg.

A county ordinance is considered in Brown County’s best interest to allow measures of control and oversight that are more specific than the State statute regarding where recreational marijuana may be used. Administration met with the sheriff and attorney offices and developed a draft ordinance for consideration.

Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson said a county ordinance could trump a city ordinance.

“Prohibiting license locations now is getting ahead of the game and should be a separate ordinance,” Hanson said.

Cannabis fines are up to $300 for adults and up to $100 for juveniles up to age 18.

• Purchasing new body cameras and mobile video/squad cameras for patrol and jail for $284,592.55 from Motorola, motion by Borchert, seconded by Braun. Axon bid $338,038.10 for the cameras.

“I think it’s absolutely necessary for new technology,” said Borchert.

The sheriff’s office recommended Motorola with $47,271.60 for the jail, in which a $30,000 grant has been applied for. The remainder can be managed within the jail budget.

Funding applied to the patrol would be $100,000 that can be managed within the budget and use State of Minnesota Public Safety Funds for the remainder.

• Did not provide a motion for a sheriff’s office request for BLK Electric to provide and install ceiling projector directional lights for $3,700 to direct people from the law enforcement center to the courthouse.

“It sounds like a lot of money for signs,” said Commissioner Windschitl.

“I’d like to see money spent another way,” said Commissioner Braun.

• Approved by a 4-1 vote, a sheriff’s office request to buy three convert pole camera systems from Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center for $5,700, motion by Borchert, seconded by Braun. Commissioner Windschitl cast a dissenting vote.

“It’s got Big Brother (government control) written all over it,” said Commissioner Windschitl.

“I’d support (using) it with a search warrant,” he added.

Brown County Sheriff Jason Seidl said search warrants are not required for cameras in public places.

Brown County Chief Deputy Jeremy Reed said the cameras are used in places like rural construction sites and some residences to help prevent theft.

Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson said the cameras save manpower and that camera data used for investigative purposes is not public data.