let there be street lights - solar street light cost

It seems like a simple concept when the municipal budget reaches its limit: turn off the street lights and save money.
But it's not that simple to find out in Milton.
Combination of factors-
Busy intersections and crooked roads, potentially high utility costs for completely cutting off electricity, and complaints from residents --
Take it to the streets
The light error procedure turned into a big mistake.
Since the end of July, the town has closed 400 of the 3,300 street lamps and began to reopen after several consecutive times.
The election committee voted to close the project. By mid-
On November, all closed street lights are expected to resume operation, except for the few nearby residents who were disturbed by them at night and asked the town to let them leave.
Milton had hoped to save about $80,000 of the $180,000 a year by turning off half of the street lights.
But "in the end, this is not the cost --
Effective, 'says Selectwoman mctrick Marion. The street-
At municipal meetings, the light slip plan was approved as a way to save on the budget position of the Public Works Department.
But former Democratic director Walter Heller left in February to do a state job,
The one-month gap before hiring Joseph Lynch in July meant that the project started slowly.
"Obviously, it took some time for the new director to keep up with the progress," said town administrator Kevin Mayne . ".
Almost from the beginning, the goal of cutting the streets --
Such a radical light budget seems too ambitious.
Road intersections and dangerous areas must also maintain areas of lighting, hills and road bends.
On some streets, two adjacent lights are on for security reasons, which means that two consecutive lights on the street will be doused, which has triggered complaints from residents.
Many trees on both sides of town roads are another complex factor.
"The residents raised concerns, especially the elderly," Mearn said . ".
According to the 16% Census, 2000 of Milton residents are 65 years old or older.
"We don't want people to be afraid to go out at night," mcrick said . ".
Some residents were dissatisfied with the move to shut down street lights after voters passed $3.
In June, proposal 42 million, 1/2, was overturned, although mctrick said
The plan of light has never depended on the overthrow of the vote. (
About half of the excess funds were spent on town schools and the rest was allocated to other departments to offset the estimated $1.
Local aid decreased by 2 million per cent and local income decreased by $600,000. )
It's also possible to have to pay high fees-
According to municipal officials, each lamp could be as high as $300.
Completely cut off the current of the fixture to the power company NStar.
This town has been using two of its own.
The individual DPW staff removed the photocells from the lamps owned by the town.
However, the current is still flowing into the fixing device, and it is obviously not a simple task to close it with a wire rod.
NStar spokesman Mike Durant, who owns and powers the poles, said the company had met with Milton officials many times to discuss what the town wanted to do and the possible costs.
"We have no problem with them removing the photocells, but the fact is that there is still current flowing into the fixture and still using energy," he said . ".
"We talked about some ways to stop the current and put the" red cloak "when turning"off lights.
Obviously, there will be a charge if our personnel are involved, or if they want to remove the light fixture from the pole.
"Mike Rick said that all members of the Democratic Party
The time to turn off the lights also means that the time to repair and replace the existing street lights is shorter. The Sept.
The decision of 24 dec does not mean that the town has abandoned its efforts to dismantle the streetslight bill.
Lynch is now looking for the $80,000 planned savings in his budget.
Officials are considering gradually replacing the current sodium steam lamp with a lamp.
Light emitting diode (LED) lighting uses about 50% of the energy consumed by sodium steam lamps.
"We may need capital bonds, but it's worth it in the long run," mcrick said . ".
Other malzhou communities are still saving on the streets. light turnoffs.
The Elector of Andover voted in August to pass a limited program of affecting streets with only five or more lights.
The town administrator, John F, said Webster had closed 600 of the 1,500 street lamps to save $60,000. McAuliffe.
According to DPW Director Lenny lacoso, Fitchburg has extinguished 1,900 of the 3,100 street lamps and hopes to save about $260,000 this fiscal year, although residents have been circulating petitions, request to close some facilitiesoffs reversed.
Municipalities that assess similar measures include Dennis, who has identified that about 830 lights can be turned off to save $55,000, says Richard White, the town administrator.
The town will hold an open hearing on the proposal on October. 20.
Rich Fahey can be found at faheywrite @ yahoo. com.