Thegatewaynews.com - Grant money could replace lights; city may use $200,460 for Mondial Parkway street lamps

by Holly Schoenstein

Reporter

Streetsboro -- The city is considering using a portion of a $200,460 grant from First Energy Solutions it received last fall to replace 36 street lamps along Mondial Parkway.

Service Director Bill Miller estimated 20 to 30 of the ungalvanized steel lamps have fallen within the past three to four years. Salt gets on the metal, causing the poles to rust, and the wind blows them over, he said.

According to Engineering Director Bruce Terrell, the original lamps were installed about 10 years ago.

To ensure safety, the city turned off the power to the lamps.

"We consider it a safety issue not only for the companies that are there, but also for anyone who uses Mondial Parkway," Terrell said.

According to city officials, no injuries have been reported.

Mayor Art Scott said he's in favor of using the grant money for this project, but the city needs to focus on its budget.

"It's going to be all about how the tax dollars come in and about spending our money wisely. We have to balance our budget. If our budget's in line, I see no reason why we wouldn't be able to use some of the money for this project," he said. "I think it's good business to take care of our industrial areas because that's where we get our biggest tax dollars from."

Former Council member Nick Ciofani suggested to Council last fall that about $200,000 of the grant money go toward replacing the street lamps, and the balance be spent on road repairs.

Ciofani said if Streetsboro wants to be attractive to businesses, the area needs to have adequate lighting.

"I live near that area and take that route, and it's disappointing to see those stumps," he said.

The total cost to replace the lamps is unknown at this time, but the city has several preliminary estimates, the highest of which was for $139,000, Terrell said.

According to Scott, First Energy offered the city the grant as an incentive to extend its contract with the utility company.

Terrell said the grant money can be used for anything the city chooses and doesn't include a time line for when it has to be spent.

"We're no different than any other city that's in a tight financial situation. This is a way to do a project that needs done without dipping into city funds," Terrell said. "We're trying to maintain safety for the residents, and I think everyone feels the project is long overdue. It's unfortunately, as is everything, driven by the ability to have budgetary funds. The grant that we received has made it possible."

Scott said he expects the Service Committee to discuss the project during its February meeting.

E-mail:
hschoenstein@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3152

2.	Posted by maninayellowcape January 22, 2010
	In my opinion, to greghelms01, Mr. Ciofani made that remark in latter November early December of 2009 in another article so this one is just a reprint. Although involved he can only make suggestions. 10 years ago those lamp poles and roadway was squeaked in on Tax Abatement because a major Corporation was moving into town according to my resources. You, sir nor anyone on Council or the Mayor know who that Co. is! "Safety" in this article is an abused word in this community and used for the sole purpose of wasting our tax dollars. I hope the elected folks do their homework and start doing their job. Here is an "Idea" for the officials, "I say put the money in the peoples cash box" and use it for road repair, re- hiring service workers and consider a Legislation of Assessment for Utilities especially in Industrial areas, Industry is getting Tax benefits while residents beg for services. Council has assessed the waterline on my street and I was paying an assessment for my streets lighting. People of this community should not suffer, like our Seniors Citizens. The trash removal which Council and the Mayor are animate of taking that service away.