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Take to Task What's not working, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, Feburary 12, 2010

Lights on in East Point

East Point/Atlanta

   East Point official Greg Clay e-mailed earlier this week with encouraging news about a major streetlight problem we've been tracking for more than a year.
   Area resident Brent Sobol contacted Tak to Task in November 2008 about a large number of missing or severely damaged streetlights along Langford Parkway/Ga. 166.  Sobol said he saw few - if any - of the lights, presumably the victims of misdirected motorist, being replaced.
   We drove the 10-mile loop of highway between the downtown connector and I-285 at the time and counted at least six missing poles on the north side and nine on the south side.  Most of the missing poles were within Atlanta's city limits; others were in East Point.
   In 2008, Clay told us the city planned to bid out the project to replace or repair the lights in its jurisdiction.  In April of last year, though, he said the city would do the work itself using its own employees to save money.  Workers begin making repairs last spring, but the process was discontinued after a few weeks because of other priorities.
   Clay's good news this week: East Point will resume repairing or replacing lights within its city limits by next Thursday.  Clay said workers replaced 14 aluminum poles last year and have another three to put up in two to three weeks, weather and other priorities permitting.
   Our luck hasn't been as good when we talk with Atlanta's Department of Public Works about its plans to repair or replace the lights for which its responsible.
   "Lack of funds precludes us from doing streetlight replacement at this time," an official told us last April.
   "As we continue to seek funding sources," the official continued, "this locations is on our priority list."
   The deparment had previously estimated about 30 lights need to be replaced or repaired, at an approximate cost of $180,000.
   We asked the official this week for an update and she confirmed the status was unchanged.
   "As we have previously indicated," she wrote, "it is our desire to ensure the optimal operation of our infrastructure.  However, we do not have the necessary funds to do so to the extent that all of our streetlights ar functioning."
   Sobol's thoughts?
   "Great news!" he said.
   "It's encouraging in tough times like these to see a municipality like East Point step up and make road safety a priority," Sobol continued.  "Maybe with a new mayor and City Council, we can get the lights that are Atlanta's responsibility addressed soon."
   We'll keep an eye on things and report back on progress.

John Becker

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