Baxter Looking At 3 Lighting Options

Baxter Planning Commission will consider three options to address lighting in town subdivisions going forward.

The first option would be allowing the power company to install wooden poles. The second would be decorative poles from the power company at the contractor’s expense. The third option added Thursday night would be a private system installed by the contractor, where Baxter might consider paying the electric bill. Building Inspector Bob Lane said there’s one goal.

“We’ve got some subdivisions right now, they got little lights in them and something bad could happen,” Lane said. “Most cities either make the contractor do it. Or they do it. We’ve let one or two slip through cracks here that we’re trying to fix. And we just don’t want this to continue because there could be some real problems down the road.”

Lane mentioned potential crime issues on streets where poor lighting exist, not to mention safety issues. Lane said with the growth happening now, letting the issue go forward could make for a long-term issue.

As for the overall lighting regulation, commissioners said they understood the desire for decorative lighting, but the costs vary.

“We’re just saying if you want something other than what we provide, you’re going to have to pay for it,” Lane said.

Lane said it’s also important the new regulations require a study to show how many streetlights are needed. The contractor would be responsible for the costs associated with the study.

No residents spoke at the public hearing on the issue Thursday. The proposed changes will be drafted and reviewed at the June meeting.