ABERDEEN, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- The Aberdeen City Council on Monday night approved the funding for the two-way Main Street.  The initial vote was 5-4.  All nine members spoke their views on this topic.

Council people who opposed and why:

Councilman Alan Johnson listed five reason why he opposed the project.

Councilman Talmage Ekanger question how much success this will generate for the businesses.

Councilwoman Charlotte Liebelt is following the advice of voters in her district where Main Street is located on.

Councilman Rob Ronayne express concerns about how parking will be lost with two way.

Ronayne adds that a change to a two way main street is warranted.  However, if and when we make the change, we need to do it right and that means reconfiguring the curbing and sidewalks to properly accommodate head in parking from vehicles going both ways.  Within a decade we expect replace the sewer system, water system and street on Main Street.  At that time, the curbing and sidewalks on main street can be more economically modified in a manner conducive to two traffic.   I fear that simply changing signage will result in a two way main street that is not satisfactory to anyone.

Council people who voted in favor:

Councilman Rich Ward talks about wanting traffic on Main Street to be used for those looking to do business there.

Councilwoman Erin Fouberg explains what the design of the street was to begin with.

Councilman Chad Nilson acknowledge the vote was not an easy one to choose from.

Councilman David Novstrup explains that the council as a whole doesn’t necessarily mean that they are opposed to small businesses in the city.

Mayor Travis Schaunaman whose vote broke the 4-4 tie believes now is the time to address downtown.

The second vote was which option for two-way.  The city council chose option A which for now will not be using a left turn lane going to 6th Avenue(US HWY 12) going southbound on a 6-3 vote.  The yes votes were Mayor Schaunaman, Council People Novstrup, Ekanger, Ward, Nilson, and Fouberg.

The third vote was final approval with the cost for the project at $200,000(amendment proposed by Councilman Novstrup) and that also was approved on a 6-3.  The yes votes were Mayor Schaunaman, Council People Novstrup, Ekanger, Ward, Nilson, and Fouberg.

Ekanger meant to vote no on that vote and he explained,  “Per our discussion earlier, I did appear to flip my vote in the meeting tonight. After explaining my opposition to the two-way main street in accordance with what I have heard from my constituents, and voting against it in the initial vote, I did vote for the option A, intending that if we must do a two way main street that it be the two-lane version that maximizes parking. In the final vote, I was fixated on the language changes and the dollars having already viewed the two-way main as a foregone conclusion. I failed to recognize that it was essentially another opportunity to vote against it. However, had I voted as intended, the ordinance would have passed anyway. The only real harm is to my appearance and pride.”

Reactions include the Executive Director Alexa Sheldon with the Aberdeen Downtown Association:

Opposing the two-way Main Street was businessman Brent Fischer who vow to do a referendum to place it for the voters to decide.

The council voted Monday to approve the city budget for 2026.  The budget is projected to be around 178 million dollars.