Fairhope, Alabama
Update (1): To the best of our knowledge, the Facebook page mentioned at bottom has not been published yet.
SECOND TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY POSSIBLE
In response to numerous complaints from disappointed residents and mechants, the mayor and city council authorized city staff to order additional strands of holiday lights to supplement the seven thousand already installed, which do not cover the trees as completely as in years past.
It is too late for Christmas, but Mardi Gras and other festivities follow: they are usually left up until after the March arts and crafts show.
NEW TYPE BULB COSTLY
Depending upon availability, there may be a shortage this late in the season, the additional strands of LED lights will cost about $23,500 plus another $10K for installation labor costs: a total of $45K was spent on those currently installed.
LED (light emitting diode) lighting is initially more costly than traditional incandescent, but use far less electricity to operate.
Electric superintendent Clusters said the lights take a beating for the five months they are left up (sockets corrode) and only about ten percent can be re-used every year -- even though volunteers at the Nix Center try to untangle and repair the strands,
Mayor Wilson said a type without sockets could be used this time -- and Community Affairs Director Sullivan said alternate types of lighting will be tried on selected "test trees."
Councilman Boone wondered why this had not been a problem until this year -- and hoped it would not happen again; and Burrell said it looked like too many had been wrapped around trunks and not in upper limbs.
Clusters said orders should be placed soon for next year's lights as well.
The council verbally (straw vote) authorized ordering the lights but will have to vote formally to appropriate money at its next meeting.
One citizen spoke up against any additional lights during "public participation" -- because they would be too costly she said.
Labor costs are expensive because of the overtime required for employees: installation occurs after hours so as not to interfere with downtown parking during the day.
SUGGESTIONS SOUGHT
A new Facebook page -- 'Make Our Tree Lights Great Again' -- to seek suggestions and comments from the public should be established by Tuesday, according to Sullivan.
Update (1): To the best of our knowledge, the Facebook page mentioned at bottom has not been published yet.
SECOND TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY POSSIBLE
In response to numerous complaints from disappointed residents and mechants, the mayor and city council authorized city staff to order additional strands of holiday lights to supplement the seven thousand already installed, which do not cover the trees as completely as in years past.
It is too late for Christmas, but Mardi Gras and other festivities follow: they are usually left up until after the March arts and crafts show.
NEW TYPE BULB COSTLY
Depending upon availability, there may be a shortage this late in the season, the additional strands of LED lights will cost about $23,500 plus another $10K for installation labor costs: a total of $45K was spent on those currently installed.
LED (light emitting diode) lighting is initially more costly than traditional incandescent, but use far less electricity to operate.
Electric superintendent Clusters said the lights take a beating for the five months they are left up (sockets corrode) and only about ten percent can be re-used every year -- even though volunteers at the Nix Center try to untangle and repair the strands,
Mayor Wilson said a type without sockets could be used this time -- and Community Affairs Director Sullivan said alternate types of lighting will be tried on selected "test trees."
Councilman Boone wondered why this had not been a problem until this year -- and hoped it would not happen again; and Burrell said it looked like too many had been wrapped around trunks and not in upper limbs.
Clusters said orders should be placed soon for next year's lights as well.
The council verbally (straw vote) authorized ordering the lights but will have to vote formally to appropriate money at its next meeting.
One citizen spoke up against any additional lights during "public participation" -- because they would be too costly she said.
Labor costs are expensive because of the overtime required for employees: installation occurs after hours so as not to interfere with downtown parking during the day.
SUGGESTIONS SOUGHT
A new Facebook page -- 'Make Our Tree Lights Great Again' -- to seek suggestions and comments from the public should be established by Tuesday, according to Sullivan.
Comments
#richpeopleproblems
Ya'll are embarrassing.
The new Facebook page may have info ... when it is published.
I don't know her personally but it is clear that she loves Fairhope and she was elected by a lot of people who felt duped by Mayor Kant and his government, so just chill out and let her get the facts and see what she can do; I doubt that we will be disappointed. I hope that ALL of our city council members are trying to cooperate with her. I read that one of them has guaranteed to make her quit within a year and I hope that it is just someone spreading a bad rumor.
Many complain about traffic, the loss of the city charm, but then want projects that bring visitors to downtown. I hear people complain about the traffic, but then we all want local business to flourish.
Everyone needs to realize that in order for local businesses to flourish, the city is going to have traffic. When traffic dies, so does a city, that traffic is money coming into Fairhope.
Land entitlements is a part of land ownership when entitlements are restricted then property values decline, something no one in Fairhope really wants.
I look forward to seeing how this new council operates, how all these newly elected individuals manage the city.