New Christmas Lights to Twinkle in Monterey

Christmas comes each year in July and December. Despite the lack of decorations in the past, Monterey citizens may see new Christmas lights this December.

Mayor Bill Wiggins addressed the criticism the city received due to the absence of Christmas lights downtown.

“There are thirty-two poles already wired for street lights. Which means they can be wired with a little receptacle that a Christmas decoration can be plugged in,” Wiggins said. “Bobby has told me that the VEC will do that forty dollars a pole labor if the organization will buy the little sockets.”

To put up new Christmas lights, the Monterey Volunteer Energy Cooperative would work with the Monterey Hometown Project.

If the project goes underway, the lights will cover an area called the Loop.

“The group of people working on the Monterey Hometown Project. They have defined an area which they affectionately call the Loop,” Wiggins said. “I only thought that was in Chicago, but the Loop to them starts at South Holly, right at the railroad tracks.”

The Loop ends after East Commercial Avenue at the last street light.

Wiggins said whether or not the Christmas light project starts will depend on the groups.

“So it is going to be up to them. This is private money, we have nothing to do with it in terms of city appropriation,” Wiggins said. “And I am assuming that group will make a decision and move forward. But it can be done pronto.”