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Residents complain about bright LED street lights; council outlines reporting and adjustment process
Summary
Councilmembers and the service director discussed complaints about new LED street lights, and officials said residents can report concerns to the service department, which will relay requests to the utility for adjustments or shielding.
WICKLIFFE, Ohio — Councilmembers and the city’s service director addressed resident complaints about newly installed LED street lights at the Jan. 13 city council meeting, and officials described the steps residents should take to request adjustments.
Councilman Jaworski raised several constituent concerns about a “brand new” bright light on Valley View and asked whether the city or the electric utility initiates replacements and whether residents can request a softer light when a fixture is changed.
The service director said residents should report issues to the city’s service department, which will contact FirstEnergy. “They can report it to us. You know, we'll report… we can report the FirstEnergy,” the service director said, adding the city can request shielding or tilt adjustments from the utility. The service director also said the city has in some cases installed shields or tilted fixtures downward to reduce light entering nearby homes.
Councilman Ballard said many complaints lessen after residents adjust, but he urged staff to make the process clear so residents know how to request a different fixture or a shield. The transcript shows a staff member said FirstEnergy offers different wattage options and that the lowest wattage can be requested for side streets; the staff member cautioned LED fixtures can still appear bright compared with older halogen lights.
Council members and staff said the service department will mark reported poles, communicate requests to the utility contact, and pursue city-funded changes only in cases where the utility will not accommodate a resident’s request. The service director noted the city sometimes pays for modifications when the situation constitutes a local burden.
No formal action was taken; the discussion ended with an instruction that residents call the service department with an address and a description of the concern so staff can document and forward requests to the utility.
