The Pontiac City Council on Dec. 2 approved a $1.25 million budget amendment tied to Michigan Department of Transportation contract 25-5404 to convert remaining city and DTE streetlights to LED luminaires.

Councilwoman Milana Jones asked about the project timeline and whether the work would cover both DTE-owned and city-owned poles. DPW Director Larry Searls said materials have been ordered and the work will start once parts (ballasts and lights) arrive. "Every light in the city that's not already converted to LED, DTE owned and city owned, will be converted to LED," Searls said.

Mayor Grama and the administration cautioned that the LED conversion addresses bulbs and ballasts and is not a general repair program for wiring or pole-structure issues. Officials said the conversion will help dim or too-dim lights by improving brightness, but the program will not fix lights that are dark because of wiring defects. "In terms of [wiring] problems, this LED program won't help the problem of lights that are out," the mayor said, noting separate work orders address those repairs.

The resolution to post the budget amendment passed on roll call, 6–1; Councilman Rutherford recorded the lone no vote. Council members asked for a more detailed inventory of lights and status reports about which fixtures are scheduled for replacement and which require separate repairs.