If five street lights in Antis Township are going to shine after Jan. 31, then an agreement must be worked out between the residents living near those lights and the supervisors.
Penelec Area Manager Beverly Green said the electric service provider recently conducted a review of the lights, which are located on West Logan Street at four separate intersections and one near the Myers Elementary School, and found the lights are illuminating publicly used roadways, thus making it the responsibility of the township to light those areas.
According to Green, residents are only responsible for paying for street lighting if the lighting itself is projected toward private property. She exampled four homes that live on a private lane where street lighting is present.
The lights were originally installed by Bellwood Borough officials many years ago and had been assuming all costs associated with them. But recently, Bellwood council members decided they no longer wished to assume those financial responsibilities and will stop paying the electrical bill.
“We’ve been asked by Bellwood Borough to disconnect some lights,” said Green. “There were some concerns about the residents that live there that benefit from the lights and what their options would be since the borough has chosen to take the lights out of their name.
“I don’t know the history behind it and what the decisions have been, basically we’ve just told both of them (the municipalities) we’d be willing to switch ownership or do whatever they need to do. But it has to remain in either municipalities’ name for the service to continue.”
Green said the only way to remedy the problem is working out an agreement either through the township and borough working together, or have the residents approaching either the township or borough to see what can be worked out.
Although supervisors already have said they would not foot the bill, Antis Township Supervisor Ray Amato said in his opinion, and for the safety of the residents, the township should assume at least some of the responsibilities.
“It’s up to the entire board to make the decision,” said Amato, “but I feel we should be involved. The total bill is about $600 a year. I think it would be a courtesy of the township to pick up at least half the bill, if the people would want to go along with that.”
Amato said he hopes the residents attend the next regularly scheduled meeting of Antis Township, scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at the township building, to discuss the issues.
“There are people that have lights and are very concerned,” he said. “But if we do decide to help pay those costs, there will be a lot of other people in the township that will want lights too. That could get expensive for the township and the tax payers.”
