City of Columbia Utilities requests funds to replace light poles

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Water and Light is asking the Columbia City Council for a quarter-million dollars to replace street lights in the city.

According to city documents, the city would appropriate $250,000 from retained earnings to the electric operating account to replace failing street light poles.

Columbia's Communications and Outreach Supervisor Jason West told ABC 17 that Columbia Water and Light has replaced 20 lights Downtown since January and has found 25 other poles that need to be replaced. the funds will go to the department's reserve stock of parts for light replacements.

West said typically, the city replaces 40-50 lights a year but found more lights have been needing replacement due to winter weather.

"When we have strong winds or storms that blow through sometimes with the salt and chemicals that we treat the roads with during the winter, it can cause issues at the base and lose that stability," West said.

In 2022, the district paid $30,000 to the City of Columbia to put in more than 90 lights to improve safety conditions.

"In the past, when there was this transition to getting away from the wooden poles and things that may have a little bit more lasting effect and obviously newer technology and newer generation of light poles, it was a positive feedback," West said.

Columbia resident Ajith Chandrasekhar was also happy about the yearly light replacements.

"If you're walking down the street at night and there's a light pole there, you feel a lot safer just being out and about," Chandrasekhar said.

The City Council will vote on the fund on Monday, April 7.