City considers light-level surveys
By Angie Landsverk
Members of the Waupaca Common Council want to know how much it would cost to survey the level of lighting in one of the city’s wards.
Justin Berrens, the city’s director of public works, is expected to have an estimate in early May before the council votes on the idea.
Ald. Alan Kjelland brought up the topic earlier this month.
“I’d like to see a survey done by Public Works to see the lighting levels of the city,” he said.
Last December, a city resident told the council she has concerns about Waupaca’s level of lighting.
The council voted a year ago to remove 92 street lights, as well as to transition to LED street lights and update the city’s Street Light Policy.
Berrens brought that recommendation forward following a review of the policy and an inventory of the city’s street lights.
The review showed Waupaca had an excessive amount of lights when compared to the policies and standards of other communities, he said.
The council’s action resulted in an annual cost savings of about $24,000 for the city.
However, since the resident spoke at the December council meeting, Kjelland and other council members have received additional complaints about the city’s level of lighting.
Kjelland said he received complaints not only from his constituents, but from those living in other parts of the city.
Other alderpersons said they also received a few complaints and referred them to Berrens.
Berrens told the council he received the data about Waupaca’s lighting cost and that of other communities from Wisconsin Public Service (WPS).
“We were the highest by far. Even after the removals, we were still the highest,” he said. “The populations (of the communities) ranged from 5,000 to 30,000.”
Ald. Lori Chesnut asked Berrens if LEDs were put in the remaining street lights after the 92 street lights were removed.
Berrens said the city upgraded the street lights it owns and maintains on Fulton Street to LEDS.
WPS owns more than 400 lights in the city.
As those lights go out, WPS is replacing them with LED lights, he said.
Berrens also said WPS will replace 12 lights per year with LEDs.
“We just went around and requested areas,” he said.
Police Chief Brian Hoelzel addressed questions about whether crime increased in the city after the 92 street lights were removed.
He said there has not been a spike in crime since the lights were taken down.
Mayor Brian Smith met with Kjelland and Berrens to discuss the idea of surveying the lighting level in an area of the city.
“It will be labor intensive to do a whole ward,” Berrens said. “I tried to find a middle ground without going to a prescription standard. It could end up costing more.”
Ald. Paul Mayou said in the ward he represents, a couple spots were identified where some would like to see lights put back up.
“Given the expense Justin is describing, I’m hesitant to ask him to do it. But on the other hand, if it’s just one ward, it would be enlightening,” Mayou said.
Some in attendance chuckled after that comment.
Berrens then said, “If you want me to shed some light on it, I’m willing to do it.”
Ald. Dave Peterson noted there is a process in place for those who have concerns about lighting.
Property owners may request a street light be installed adjacent to their property by submitting a written request to the Public Works Department.
The department has to review the request and make a recommendation within 10 calendar days.
Decisions by the department may be appealed to the common council.
“I have looked at quite a few,” Berrens said. “For the most part, I said no to the majority of them. We put two back up.”
When there have been requests, “we have done reviews and gone through the process. Ultimately, I tell people if they don’t like the outcome, they can always come here (to council),” he said.
The mayor noted Kjelland was not just talking about where street lights had been removed, but areas of the city where it may have always been darker.