Street lights, website discussed in Follansbee
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FOLLANSBEE -- The replacement of street lights along Main Street and the use of the city's website to dispense information were among topics discussed at Monday's Follansbee Council meeting.
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Alexis Russel asked about plans to install solar-powered lights on the street lights.
Russel said council last year authorized then city manager Jack McIntosh to accept proposals from potential contractors.
McIntosh said then that such lights were installed atop a street light outside the City Building at the corner of Main and Penn streets to determine their effectiveness.
The move was seen as a possible alternative to replacing conventional lights on the 72 poles along Main Street.
Crews working for the city found underground electrical wiring for the lights need to be replaced, requiring sidewalks to be torn up.
Plans were made to use about $1 million from federal American Recovery Plan Act funds awarded to the city to replace the lights and install Internet boosters on the poles and to seek $500,000 for new sidewalks.
Russel said she's received complaints the street is too dark from many residents, particularly those who cross it at the city's south end at night.
"Everybody wants to know, what are you going to do about the street lights?" she said.
Mayor David Velegol Jr. told Russel, "(Up) to this time, we're not convinced that (solar lighting outside the City Building) provides enough light."
"They're not putting off enough light. I have never seen them give off enough light," he said later.
Velegol said following a spate of cloudy days, the lights don't store enough energy to produce adequate brightness.
City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo said he will consult McIntosh and bring in an electrician to look at them.
"We'll put it on max so we know what max looks like and experiment for a week or so," he said.
Second Ward Councilman Charles McCoy questioned whether solar lights, because they draw on a natural energy source, could be at least an affordable, temporary remedy for the darkness.
Following the meeting, Velegol said the solar lights by the City Building cost about $1,000, and the estimated expense for lights for all of the poles and their installation was $100,000.
While there had been plans to replace the street lights in phases beginning at Allegheny and Main, the mayor said it seems more cost-efficient and practical to hire one contractor to do all of them.
Council also heard from Michael "Mac" Casini, a city employee involved with updating the city's website at https://thecityoffollansbee.com.
Casini said he's established a link on the site to the Follansbee Timeline website created by Frank Chorba, a Follansbee native and professor at Washburn University, who secured grant monies through the Kansas school for the project.
He said the link was done with the professor's blessing, so aspects of the city's history recorded on the site may continue after he is gone.
Casini noted it was designed to allow residents to add information and make corrections or additions to what's been posted.
The conversation also turned to information that may be posted on the city's website, such as photos of local parks, details about the city's 50-50 sidewalk program, through which the city and property owners contribute equally for the replacement of sidewalks; and various ordinances.
Also on Monday:
— Council heard from Charles White, a resident of Marquette Avenue, who complained that a vehicle recently struck mailboxes near his home. He said because it's near a bend in the road, vehicles have frequently veered into his yard.
White suggested prohibiting parking across the street would help to remedy the problem.
Street Superintendent Steve Meca said parked vehicles there also have hindered the city's snow plows. He and City Police Chief Larry Rea agreed to look at the area.
— Kaitlyn Lahita, a special education student at West Liberty University and certified special education aide, received council's blessing to raise funds for swings for city parks that could be used by children with special needs.
Velegol encouraged Lahita to share details with DiBartolomeo, who said the city's grant writer could aid in seeking funds for the effort.
— McCoy shared possible ways to deter speeding in the city, from speed humps that are wider but not as high as speed bumps to small roundabouts, that council may consider.
He noted pedestrian crossing signs and crosswalks have been placed in some areas to encourage drivers to proceed with caution.
— It was announced Halloween trick or treat hours in the city will be 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.