City commission says East Campus lighting is adequate

Columbia’s Environment and Energy Commission voted Tuesday nightto recommend to the city council not to hire an outside consultant to evaluate the lighting in the East Campus neighborhood.

ABC 17 News has been following the neighborhood lighting issue since 2014 when a concerned resident started a petition asking the city to install more lights in the area.

Some residents said they don’t feel safe walking around at night due to the poor lighting. They said the lack of lighting has lead to an increase in crime in the area.

Commission member Ken Midkiff said based on presentations and other reports, the commission unanimously decided the lighting in East Campus is fine.

“The problem was the complaints were everything from lack of water and electricity to lack of lighting, too much lighting,” he said “It was 50-some odd complaints, but they were all over the board. It wasn’t specifically about lighting.”

Midkiff said Betsy Peters, 6th Ward Councilmember, and Janet Hammen, East Campus Neighborhood Association President, both walked through the neighborhood at night and agreed there was enough lighting.

ABC 17 News reached out to both women for comment, but are waiting to hear back.

Midkiff added the number of complaints about poor lighting in the area have also gone down.

“It’s a complaint driven process. So unless they are made aware of a problem, they don’t address it.”