Council moves ahead to reduce city lighting

The council Tuesday directed staff to prepare a resolution incorporating the lighting efficiency plan recommended by the city lighting committee.

The dimming of the lights came in response as a result of earlier efforts by Councilman Rex Knapp to most efficiently pay for additional lighting on the Highway 75 bypass.

The locations of the "decorator" type lights flagged for turnoff are: 10 on First Street N.E.; six at Olson Cultural Event Center, 10 at Le Mars Public Library, four at Willow Creek Golf Course, two at Le Mars Convention/Wellness Center; four at Two Rivers Development, six at Westmar Memorial Park, and four at Veterans Memorial Park.

Turning off those lights will reduce the city's current $9,000 monthly lighting cost, and Knapp's hopeful the savings will be sufficient to pay for placement of 18 new bypass lights with three lights at each of the six bypass ramps.

Exact cost of the new bypass lighting is yet to be determined.

The lighting committee put the monthly cost savings of removal of the downtown lights at approximately $232 with an additional monthly cost of $32 for the added intersection lighting.

City intersections that will be receiving the new lights include Fourth Avenue S.E. and Lee Drive, 12th Avenue S.W. and 12th Street, North Lynn Drive and Seventh Avenue S.E., Schafer Avenue and 15th Street S.E. and Second Street and 14th Avenue.

Neal Adler, voicing his personal rather than organizational viewpoint on turning off the lights, cautioned council members as to how the decreased lighting might be interpreted by visitors to Le Mars.

"You've scaled back the downtown beautification project and now, it appears, you're doing the same to the downtown lighting," Adler said. "Are we seen as moving backwards or forward in our efforts?"

Mayor Dick Kirchoff, said city officials are doing all they can to make Le Mars attractive and a good place to work.

"We realize there must be a balance in what we do, and are attempting to reach this balance," Kirchoff said noting the additional safety provided by more lights on the bypass along with budget efficiencies in the proposal.

Councilman Knapp explained everything possible is being done for the safety of local residents in considering the plan.

Addressing a concern of Sue Kroesche, Le Mars Public Library director, concerning reduced lights there, Knapp said wall pack lights will be used at library entrances as added safety measures.

He agreed with Kroesche that replacing currently burned out lighting under the library canopy can provide additional security at that site.

Council members, meanwhile, will turnoff the lights slated for elimination for a period of time.

This, council members said, would provide the opportunity for local residents to personally tour these areas and to provide input on the proposed lighting removal plan prior to the council taking final action at its next meeting.