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Council approves vendor plan to reconnect five town streetlights under utility arrangement
Summary
After Duke Energy disconnected wiring to five lights, council authorized staff to sign a contract with an upfront installation charge and a monthly lighting fee to restore service, and agreed to retain town poles for backups; staff will finalize contract details and track costs.
The council approved moving forward with a utility‑led reconnection plan after Duke Energy identified the town’s lights as tied to the utility’s system and required conduit and metering work.
Staff described two pricing options presented by the utility: an upfront installation charge discussed in the meeting at roughly $14,750 and an ongoing monthly fee discussed at roughly $135.50 for the five poles. Council members asked staff to confirm exact contract terms, retention of existing town poles for backup use, and whether the utility would provide maintenance response under the monthly plan.
Council members debated whether to negotiate with the utility for a lower cost or obtain additional bids for alternative solutions, but they concluded the utility’s timeline and equipment availability made the proposed option the most practical route to restore illumination quickly. By motion, the council authorized the mayor/authorized staff to sign the required contract and proceed with installation; one councilor recorded opposition during the voice roll call.
Staff will return with the signed contract and final cost figures and will document maintenance responsibilities and budget implications.
Note on numbers: installation and monthly fees were discussed in the meeting but are approximations drawn from the transcript discussion and should be verified against the final contract.
