SLEEPY EYE - New antique acorn-style street lights will get white LED Christmas light bulbs and greenery this Christmas season.
It's been in the city budget for years, but the Sleepy Eye City Council OK'd a $3,100 expenditure for the holiday decorations this season.
Decoration costs are just under $100 for each street light on Main Street.
City Manager Mark Kober added the new white and blue LED lights on two street lights in front of the city building, then had the Sleepy Eye Chamber of Commerce do a survey to determine public preferences.
Kober explained that downtown property owners cannot be billed for the added electrical costs, but with the new, energy-efficient LED bulbs, the added expense will not be substantial.
The City Council unanimously approved:
* Joining the Central Minnesota Municipal Power Association (CMMPA) including market participation and additional services agreements. The agreements were previously approved by the Sleepy Eye Public Utility Commission.
Sleepy Eye Street & Utilities Supt. Bob Elston said the no-cost agreements would bolster the city's bond rating and protect it as a CMMPA member.
City Engineer Dave Palm said Sleepy Eye Lake Trail construction work is in the final $15,000 of a $540,000 budget.
Added costs around the bridge over the slough north of Sportsmans Park added an additional $2,000 to project costs.
Palm said the 2009 Street & Utility Project will likely include finishing curb, gutter and blacktop on three areas at the south edge of town, parts of 12th Ave N.E., 2nd Ave N.W. and S.W., 2nd Ave S.E., the swimming pool parking lot and sidewalks, tennis court application, several alleys and a Sportsmans Park campsite update.
Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com