Jill Schramm/MDN Vehicles navigate the roundabout at 13th Street and 31st Avenue Southeast Tuesday. Neighbors are concerned about property damage they believe is caused by excessive speed of vehicles in the roundabout.

Minot’s roundabout is getting scrutiny after incidences of property damage from vehicles running off the roadway.

Neighbors blame excessive speed, and City Engineer Lance Meyer concurs that is likely the issue, although he said an investigation is needed to determine what is happening.

“Someone veering off the road at this location and at that angle is highly unusual,” Meyer said. “We are currently collecting crash data and will review to see if any patterns can be found.”

Larry Lemon, who has lived behind the roundabout on 13th Street Southeast for four years, told the Minot City Council Monday that the 25 mph speed limit is being ignored.

“My personal property has been damaged two times. My neighbor to the north has also been damaged,” he said, noting a vehicle nearly crashed into his neighbor’s home. “For someone walking in the area of the roundabout, or playing in our backyard, it’s catastrophic. Also, there’s no pedestrian lights for kids to come from the school.”

Having had his fence run through twice, he questioned the reduction in market value of his home because of the roundabout.

“I want to see guardrails, speed bumps or boulders placed before someone gets critically hurt,” Lemon said.

“Speed bumps would not be our first choice and would have to be removed in the winter,” Meyer said. “A police presence is the best choice to help control speed, but their resources are limited.” Before making changes, he said, he wants to view the crash data to understand if the damages to Lemon’s fence were random occurrences or if there is an issue that requires additional solutions and discussions with the neighbors and council.