Comments on: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS http://brothermartin.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/an-open-letter-to-the-mayor-and-selected-metro-council-members/ scripts from The Green Hour radio show on WRFN-LP, Nashville Tennessee Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:52:49 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: brothermartin http://brothermartin.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/an-open-letter-to-the-mayor-and-selected-metro-council-members/#comment-1260 brothermartin Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:44:13 +0000 http://brothermartin.wordpress.com/?p=870#comment-1260 somebody took me seriously...... http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=11666470 Indiana cities pull plug on streetlamps to save money - Budget cuts and property tax caps are leaving many residents across Indiana in the dark. Merrillville has turned off every other streetlight on its main roads. Valparaiso is turning off every other light in some areas and has set others to turn off at midnight. Muncie officials say the city will shut off 85 percent of overhead lights to help balance the 2010 budget. The moves are a response to rising costs and shrinking revenue that's the result of the ailing economy and property tax caps. Muncie Mayor Sharon McShurley says the move could result in more than just darker streets. "I'm setting you on notice," she told the council. "The decisions you have made, unless you reconsider the budget, are going to be detrimental to the city." But officials in several cities say the changes are necessary. Merrillville Public Works Director Bruce Spires said the city is more than a year behind on its NIPSCO bills. The city will turn off 300 streetlights, for a savings of about $2,000 a month. somebody took me seriously……

http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=11666470

Indiana cities pull plug on streetlamps to save money –

Budget cuts and property tax caps are leaving many residents across Indiana in the dark.

Merrillville has turned off every other streetlight on its main roads. Valparaiso is turning off every other light in some areas and has set others to turn off at midnight. Muncie officials say the city will shut off 85 percent of overhead lights to help balance the 2010 budget.

The moves are a response to rising costs and shrinking revenue that’s the result of the ailing economy and property tax caps.

Muncie Mayor Sharon McShurley says the move could result in more than just darker streets.

“I’m setting you on notice,” she told the council. “The decisions you have made, unless you reconsider the budget, are going to be detrimental to the city.”

But officials in several cities say the changes are necessary. Merrillville Public Works Director Bruce Spires said the city is more than a year behind on its NIPSCO bills.

The city will turn off 300 streetlights, for a savings of about $2,000 a month.

]]> By: brothermartin http://brothermartin.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/an-open-letter-to-the-mayor-and-selected-metro-council-members/#comment-1094 brothermartin Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:48:10 +0000 http://brothermartin.wordpress.com/?p=870#comment-1094 So far, the only response has come from Lonnell Matthews, my district councilman, who said: Thank you Mr. Holsinger, > > I have always been told that Clarksville Hwy., being a state highway, was > the jurisdiction of TDOT. I have contacted Public Works before about > various issues on Clarksville Hwy., But they have always said that they had > to refer my issues to TDOT. Maybe there are certain issues that public > works will not address on state highways. I will get clarification. Thanks > again! So, I got in touch with TDOT, and got this response: Dear Mr. Holsinger: Thank you for contacting the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) regarding the installation of poles on Briley Parkway. The poles in which you refer to on Briley Parkway are actually part of our Phase 3 Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Project. These poles are not light poles, but in fact will be used to mount cameras & radar detector systems, as we have installed in other areas around town on our interstates and parkways. As for your questions regarding lighting issues, you would need to contact Billy Lynch at Metro Public Works. He may be reached at (615)862-8750. If you have further question regarding the installation of the ITS system, please contact Chuck Graves at (615)350-4382.(end of letter) My request for info on the cost of street lights and security lights is now bouncing around somewhere inside the systems at Metro Public Works and NES, since they share responsibility for streetlights, and NES, should, somewhere, have the numbers on security lights....will they pay any attention to my request? Stay tuned.... So far, the only response has come from Lonnell Matthews, my district councilman, who said:
Thank you Mr. Holsinger,
>
> I have always been told that Clarksville Hwy., being a state highway, was
> the jurisdiction of TDOT. I have contacted Public Works before about
> various issues on Clarksville Hwy., But they have always said that they had
> to refer my issues to TDOT. Maybe there are certain issues that public
> works will not address on state highways. I will get clarification. Thanks
> again!

So, I got in touch with TDOT, and got this response:

Dear Mr. Holsinger:

Thank you for contacting the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) regarding the installation of poles on Briley Parkway.

The poles in which you refer to on Briley Parkway are actually part of our Phase 3 Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Project. These poles are not light poles, but in fact will be used to mount cameras & radar detector systems, as we have installed in other areas around town on our interstates and parkways.

As for your questions regarding lighting issues, you would need to contact Billy Lynch at Metro Public Works. He may be reached at (615)862-8750.

If you have further question regarding the installation of the ITS system, please contact Chuck Graves at (615)350-4382.(end of letter)

My request for info on the cost of street lights and security lights is now bouncing around somewhere inside the systems at Metro Public Works and NES, since they share responsibility for streetlights, and NES, should, somewhere, have the numbers on security lights….will they pay any attention to my request? Stay tuned….

]]>