Council delays decision on town-park pedestrian lighting to June for full cost analysis

Oak Ridge — The Town Council postponed a vote on proposed pedestrian-scale lighting at the Town Park entrance and sidewalks, asking staff to return in June with a full, apples-to-apples total-cost comparison of the two dissimilar proposals.

Staff presented two options: a local contractor’s proposal (bollard-style fixtures) that would require town ownership of equipment, an upfront capital outlay and the town’s responsibility for maintenance after warranty expiration; and a Duke Energy option for pedestrian-scale street poles that would be installed and maintained by Duke under a contract requiring the town to pay a monthly fee (staff cited approximately $308 per month under the Duke proposal).

Council members raised concerns about lacking a contract from Duke with explicit terms, the long-term maintenance burden and the appropriate comparative lifespan and replacement costs for bollards. Several councilmembers said the Duke option may be cheaper over a longer lifespan once maintenance and replacement of owned equipment are considered and noted that paying a fixed monthly fee spreads future costs over time. Others favor owning assets to avoid recurring monthly service fees.

Council voted to continue the item to the June meeting and directed staff to obtain: (1) the Duke Energy contract language and firm pricing; (2) a detailed cost estimate and maintenance/ replacement schedule for the bollard option; and (3) a life-cycle net present value comparison that captures installation, maintenance, replacement and energy costs over a realistic planning horizon.

Why it matters: The lighting links new sidewalks and the restored farmhouse to parking and the broader park system; the solution will affect capital planning, maintenance responsibilities and long-term operating costs for the park.