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Resident raises safety concerns for Hartley Road; aldermen press Liberty Electric for streetlight fixes
Summary
A resident told the Board of Aldermen that Hartley Road near Ozark Elementary is poorly lit and unsafe for pedestrians and students; several aldermen urged action and criticized Liberty Electric's responsiveness.
A resident urged the Board of Aldermen to improve street lighting on Hartley Road, a narrow, hilly stretch west of Ozark Elementary School that she said is dark at night and dangerous for pedestrians.
Sherry Horning, who gave her address as 1509 East Hartley, told the board she and neighbors observe frequent speeding and poor nighttime illumination on the blocks between Third Street and Ozark Elementary. "The speed for this road is posted at 25 miles per hour. This is ignored by most drivers," Horning said, adding that "there is very little illumination along this stretch of road" and that existing lights are mismatched or nonfunctional. She asked the board to "kindly consider increasing public safety by buying and installing working streetlights and making sure they are properly maintained."
Why it matters: Horning said the stretch is used by walkers, people walking dogs and groups of teens, and is near an elementary school; inadequate lighting raises safety concerns for pedestrians and motorists.
Board response: Several aldermen agreed the condition needs attention. "We get liberty on board... Liberty is disrespecting us when we try to call him," said Alderman Calvin Campbell, criticizing the city's streetlight contractor’s responsiveness. Alderman Hutchinson called the situation "a concern" and urged the city to develop a plan that could include LED lighting, saying, "we no more kicking the can down the road with it." Alderman Autumn Galloway asked Horning for location details to help staff verify where lighting is missing; Horning identified the segment west of the elementary school between Fourteenth and Hartley as being particularly dark.
Follow-up and context: City staff and aldermen said the city will investigate the specific locations Horning named and pursue options. Multiple aldermen noted previous discussions about Liberty Electric and encouraged staff to follow up about maintenance and possible upgrades. Alderman Campbell and others recalled an earlier fatal bicycle crash on a dark highway in the region to underscore the safety concern.
Provenance (selected excerpts): - topicintro: "Good evening. My name is Sherry Horning... The reason that I feel compelled to speak this evening is the fact that that stretch of road between Third Street and Ozark Elementary School is very unsafe." (public comment excerpt) - topfinish: "I'm gonna make it a point to drive through in the evening. And I appreciate you bringing this to our attention." (board response excerpt)
