(Spirit Lake)– Is Spirit Lake getting too bright? Some people apparently think so, saying the city is giving off too much of a glow after dark–from its new water tower that has spotlights shining on it to lights along streets with no one living along them or no businesses on them.
One woman who spoke at Tuesday’s city council meeting says the city is wasting money by lighting the new water tower. She says it’s wasting energy and taxpayer money, saying that “if it’s a matter of pride, I think you should consider saving electric energy at night time and just be proud of it during the daytime.”
Councilman Jerry Harbst sounded off on lights along streets with no businesses or residents living along them. He pointed to Sunner Avenue from the YMCA to Stakeout Road as an example, saying the only purpose the streetlights have right now in that area is “so raccoons can cross the street”. He says he’d like to see the council consider shutting off atleast some of the lights in those areas, saying the city’s street lighting bill has become “astronomical”. Harbst says he wants the issue addressed at budget time.
