By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur’s new roundabout is still a few weeks from completion, but there is already a debate among local residents about what will go in the center of the traffic circle.
Mayor Dan Rickord and Operations Manage Jeremy Gilbert said at a recent meeting of city council that they have been receiving inquiries about the centerpiece.
However, the decision isn’t around the proverbial corner.
“We would like to see a little more completion before we decide that,” the mayor said.
Still, it seems possible that nothing will be installed for purely decorative purposes.
City officials are concerned that something “neat” or “cool” might cause some people to gamble on avoiding traffic to walk out to the centerpiece to gaze upon what’s there.
Other communities have said the same thing.
At present, it seems that a large flagpole could wind up in the center – large, so it can be seen from a reasonable distance.
Or there could be more than one flagpole.
It’s doubtful that anyone would risk walking through traffic to get a closeup look at a flagpole.
Something which may well wind up in the area – not the center – of the roundabout, however, are a few of the sculptures around the city. Sculpture pads are being put down by the contractor for just that purpose.
The Indiana Department Transportation (INDOT) is in charge of the project. E&B Paving won the contract with a low bid of $2,493,109. Decatur’s match is 20% of the final cost.
It is hoped that the project, which began June 2, will be completed by Labor Day.
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