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Council weighs options to replace Rivergreen custom street lights; price quote ~ $339,287
Summary
Staff presented three options for 50 failing custom street lights in the Rivergreen subdivision: city-funded replacement and maintenance using SPLOST ($339,287 quote), cost-sharing with the HOA, or a developer add-on fee (~$1,696.44 per undeveloped lot); council asked staff for more detailed costs and options before taking action.
City staff informed council that the Rivergreen Homeowners Association has requested replacement of roughly 50 custom street lights along Rivergreen Avenue and Riverbend Way that the developer originally installed and later turned over to the HOA. The lights have fallen into disrepair and the HOA asked the city to replace them and have Georgia Power assume ongoing maintenance with the city covering the monthly cost.
Staff presented three options: (1) authorize full funding to replace the fixtures and assume maintenance (staff supplied a Georgia Power prepayment quote of $339,287 for the replacement cost, not including monthly maintenance); (2) direct staff to reengage the HOA on a specific cost-sharing proposal; or (3) explore a developer add-on fee on the remaining undeveloped lots in Rivergreen (staff estimated about 200 undeveloped lots and an illustrative add-on of $1,696.44 per lot).
Councilmembers raised equity and precedent concerns: several noted that the custom fixtures were not city-standard and that other neighborhoods have no street lighting; members questioned whether the city should absorb the cost for a single development and asked whether the HOA had pursued reimbursement from the original developer. Staff said Georgia Power had indicated additional underground wiring and replacement would be required in some locations, increasing cost and complexity, and that monthly maintenance under a city arrangement would include a higher rate that covers maintenance in addition to power.
Council did not take action and asked staff to return with detailed cost estimates, clearer counts of remaining lots, and options (including SPLOST funding, cost-sharing, or developer add-on fee scenarios) at the next meeting.
