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MILFORD - The proposed "Western Route" bypass around theÊwest side of Milford brought a group of 30 or 40 concerned citizens to the town council meeting Monday.
Phillip Klein, of Milford, speaking on behalf of the group, said that a number of Milford residents are concerned about the proposal.
He said the new road - as proposed - would destroy wetlands and "take out a number of homes and small home-based businesses."
He also said the bypass would hurt existing Milford businesses by diverting traffic away from them.
Klein said he is circulating a petition against the proposed bypass and already has approximately 100 signatures.
The consensus of the group was that the county never sought input from Milford-area residents.
Town clerk Charlotte Siegfried said a representative from the county was invited to Monday's meeting, but could not attend.
That revelation drew groans from the group.
One member of the group asked the council if they knew what effect a bypass would have on the town.
"Have you ever been to Bremen?" he asked. "They have a bypass. It's a ghost town."
Councilman Doug Ruch said while the town certainly is sympathetic to the group's concerns, there was little the town could do since the bypass is a county project.
But he noted that the town council could give the county its views on the project.
"That's a county project," he said.
Councilman Bob Cockburn said, "My concern is the future of Milford. I don't want Milford to be a ghost town, but I don't want to have a four-lane racetrack through town, either."
Cockburn suggested that residents need to pay attention to local issues and get involved by attending meetings and voicing their opinions.
The council passed around a piece of paper and asked for a list of names and phone numbers of interested people.
Ruch said the council will set up a meeting with county officials to discuss the matter.
He said he would personally call each person on the list to inform them of the time and place of the meeting.
