LIGHT IS THE SUBJECT
Emporium Borough needs to replace street lights
James Moate, Endeavor News

On Monday, members of the Emporium Borough Council tabled action on a complete overhaul of its street lighting fixtures.

Federal law mandates that by 2010 all mercury vapor lighting fixtures be replaced to reduce mercury vapor pollution. All of Emporium Borough's 184 street lights are mercury vapor fixtures.

Emporium Borough Manager Don "Stretch" Reed said a representative from Allegheny Power told him that ballasts for the lights are becoming increasing difficult to find and, ultimately, burned out mercury vapor lights will not be repairable.

Reed said that there are two options for replacement. One involves replacing the fixtures with another type of white light, metal halide fixtures, that would cost borough residents an estimated $920 more per month in electricity to light the borough.

Another, more cost effective option, is to install high pressure sodium lights, he explained. Though these lights would only increase monthly electricity costs by about $40, they emit a yellowish light that is not as brilliant as white lighting.

Tina Lorson, executive director of the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce, said that yellow lights would be detrimental to the community.

"It's already been proven that there is a drug problem in Cameron County," Lorson said. "Putting in yellow lights would only make the problem worse."

Lorson said that studies have shown that communities with yellow lighting tend to have higher crime rates than those with white lights. She went on to say that local communities have spent large amounts of money to switch from yellow light to white lights in order to reduce crime.

Council member Randy Frey suggested council become more educated on the issue before making a decision.

"Street lighting is something that's very, very important," said Frey. "I think this is something (that requires) putting together a committee to study."

Council agreed and tabled action, pending additional information.

Reed said that the council is "investigating a bunch of other things" regarding the issue. He added that deciding which lights to go with will be a critical decision for residents as electricity costs are expected to go up.

According to Reed, Allegheny Power has announced that electricity rates are scheduled for a 14 percent increase in 2009 and an increase of 11 percent in 2010.

In other business, Lorson told council members that the Chamber is considering applying for a $20,000 grant to purchase a property on Fourth Street. She said that the Chamber is looking at four vacant buildings. If purchased, the building would serve as the new Chamber office.

In other news, council declined an offer from the Pa. Dept of Pennsylvania (PennDOT) to take ownership of a portion of North Broad Street and Portage Road.

Instead, they agreed to provide winter maintenance on the sections in exchange for additional liquid fuel reimbursements.

PennDOT had offered Emporium Borough $100,000 to take over the roads entirely, meaning the borough would be responsible for maintaining and resurfacing the pavement. PennDOT will retain those responsibilities as a result of council's action.

Acting on the suggestion of the Street Committee, council members agreed to make the intersection of Poplar and Fifth streets a four-way stop.

Six paving projects within the borough received the green light for contract bidding. Once bids are accepted, roads to be paved will be portions of Seventh, Walnut, Second, Third and Pine streets.