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 city would generally pay the cost of higher‑output fixtures unless Freeport qualifies again for ComEd’s Select Communities (formerly “distressed communities”) discounts.

Chief Schimberger, Freeport’s police chief, provided a list of prioritized locations and told aldermen he recommended starting in the most problematic blocks. “There’s 10 lights I’ve suggested in between Broadway and Empire” on Oak Street, he said, adding the department has increased patrols and other crime‑reduction tactics in the area.

Public works staff said a prior ComEd survey found existing luminaires producing the power they were rated for; increasing light levels would require fixture replacement or added poles. Public works estimates from earlier outreach put the cost of adding a new pole with wiring at about $13,000 per pole; a year‑old estimate to replace a set of fixtures across several target streets was roughly $25,000. Public works also reported recent bid savings — roughly $23,000 on a sewer cleaning contract — and said the city currently has about $20,000 budgeted for street lighting.

Several aldermen urged using available funds now rather than waiting for Select Communities status. “Hope is not a plan,” Alderman Monroe said, urging the council to act on immediate funding and prioritize the highest‑impact fixes. Alderman Stacy (Fifth Ward) said she had worked with the police chief and ComEd and asked the council to start with a targeted list of hot spots rather than a citywide program.

Other aldermen urged patience and coordination with state and utility programs. Alderman Sellers noted Freeport is close to being reclassified for ComEd’s program and said the designation could significantly reduce the city’s costs if staff and council wait to act while pursuing that designation.

Manager Boyer and public works staff said they have repeatedly followed up with ComEd and the community‑status process and that selection would reduce cost share for upgrades; they recommended the council direct staff to develop a prioritized list and a funding plan for either existing budget reallocation or for a targeted capital request.

The council did not approve a funding reallocation during the meeting. Several members said they want staff to return with a short list of the highest‑priority fixtures, a firm cost estimate for replacing heads versus adding poles, and a recommended funding source so the council can consider specific appropriations.

What’s next: staff will compile the police‑identified list of high‑priority locations, confirm updated cost estimates with ComEd and city crews, and present a funding recommendation for a future council vote. Residents and aldermen also discussed public‑outreach options and interim measures — including increased patrols and neighborhood watch engagement — while physical upgrades are planned.