Freeport aldermen push to reallocate savings, prioritize brighter street lighting in high-crime areas

Aldermen and city staff on Monday discussed rerouting savings and existing street‑lighting funds to boost lighting in parts of Freeport identified by police as high‑crime or poorly lit, with several council members urging immediate action after recent shootings on Oak Street and other blocks.

The issue took on urgency during public comment when resident Steve Carroll said recent LED conversions have reduced coverage on Oak Street and hampered police searches. “Crime hides in the shadows, and with the current lighting on Oak, they've got plenty of shadows to hide in,” Carroll said during public comment.

The council’s public-safety discussion centered on two near-term options: replacing existing LED fixtures with higher‑output heads on existing ComEd poles, or adding new poles and fixtures mid‑block. City Manager Darren Boyer and a ComEd representative said replacing fixture heads is less expensive than installing new poles, but the…