Lights out

A majority of the dozen or so north Brainerd residents attending Tuesday's Brainerd Northside Neighborhood Association meeting were OK with shutting off streetlights as part of an energy-saving pilot project.

Their approval, however, came with several stipulations.

Under a plan proposed to the Brainerd City Council by Public Utilities Superintendent Tom Phelps, 45 streetlights would be shut off for the six-month pilot project, with the majority of the streetlights at mid-block locations between Kingwood and Washington streets. Other areas recommended were mid-block lights on North Eighth Street from Washington to Fir streets and lights in alleys between Kingwood and Washington streets.

Concerns from residents attending Tuesday's meeting included safety, whether other areas of the city have their lights shut off and whether measurable criteria will be made available to determine whether the project is working.

"I'm all about saving money but not at the expense of the city paying to fix buildings or fix body parts," said Kathleen Hermerding, who ran Tuesday's meeting. "I'm not opposed to the pilot project as long as I know some of the lights that have been turned off can be turned on again relatively easy."

A subcommittee of the Brainerd Northside Neighborhood Association will be formed and meet next week to go through Phelps' map to determine which lights need to stay and whether there are other lights that can go.

In total, there are about 170 streetlights in north Brainerd. Shutting off 45 streetlights would save an estimated $552 a month and $6,626 a year.

The pilot project is one of several energy-saving ideas Brainerd Public Utilities is considering as a means to save the city money wherever it can. Other areas include changing the wattage and design in streetlights installed with street projects and seeking stimulus money to improve energy-efficiency for all city buildings.

Phelps told the association that he selected north Brainerd not to pick on it but because it was a condensed area. He said his recommendations excluded shutting off lights at schools, the hospital, the senior center and intersections. He noted that with the Mill Avenue reconstruction, more than 10 streetlights were removed and no complaints have been received.

Resident Deb Celley, pastor of First Congregational Church, where Tuesday's meeting was held, said she was for reducing carbon emissions and environmental upgrades.

"I see this project as a part, just a little part, of an overall plan, that trend toward more energy-efficiency. We're trying to use that tax money...," Celley said. "I think that we, as a neighborhood, can probably support this plan to some extent. I think it would be a good idea now to just put our heads together to look at this."

North Brainerd resident Virginia Christle said she was opposed to shutting off any lights, mostly for safety reasons.

"I won't feel very safe if that light is removed," Christle said. "I want my light."

Council member Bob Olson said he's received enough calls from residents against the pilot project that he would not be voting in favor of it. He said there were other areas in the city budget where money could be saved.

Council member Kelly Bevans, who along with Olson and council member Bonnie Cumberland also attended Tuesday's meeting, said the 45 streetlights proposed were not set in stone and it won't be known if the pilot project is a success until it's tried.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.