City council discusses lighting changes on Brook Manor Drive
The Mountain Brook City Council heard a public request for lighting changes on Brook Manor Drive at its Oct. 12 meeting.
Residents requested the city’s assistance in placing two decorative streetlights, a project which would cost around $11,000. The decorative lights would replace the current light fixtures.
Council Pro Tem Billy Pritchard asked if the decorative lights would better illuminate the road, noting the change seemed to be based in aesthetics. He said bumping up the wattage of the current fixtures could reduce crime, which the residents were also concerned with.
“We can get the power company to look at this street too, to look at increased lighting or increasing the wattage,” said City Manager Sam Gaston.
Council President Virginia Smith noted the aesthetically pleasing lighting is the preference, but many villages do not have the decorative lighting.
“I’m worried about the precedent. If y’all were the only spot within our villages that didn’t have the acorn lighting, then I might be inclined to find some middle ground,” said Council President Virginia Smith, “but presently I am not … Just looking for more illumination is a way to solve your more immediate need for safety.”
The council decided to bring the power company to inspect the lighting and see if illumination could be increased in the area.
The next city council meeting is Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Pre-council begins at 6:15 p.m.
In other news, the council:
- Discussed an incentive policy for public safety employees. The policy would allow employees to gain educational incentives even though the Personnel Board of Jefferson County has become more restrained in its scope of granting incentive approval. The change would prevent employees from losing educational incentives in the case of a raise. Gaston proposed continuing the discussion to the next city council meeting, and the council agreed.
- Held off on a study for a sidewalk along South Brookwood Road. The council decided to work to limit the scope of the study and discuss it at a future meeting.
- Approved funding an erosion plan study for Shades Creek at Mountain Brook Parkway and Overbrook Road. The study will cost around $11,000 and will include plans for armoring the bank in order to fight erosion.
- Approved a resolution adopting the FY2016 budget for the Mountain Brook Emergency Communications Distict.
- Approved the transfer of $275,000 from the Emergency Communications District operating fund to the city’s general fund. The funds were a reimbursement for E911 dispatch labor costs for FY2015.
- Approved the transfer of $75,000 from the general fund to capital projects fund.
- Recommended the approval of a liquor license for Miss Dots Crestline, which is opening at 49 Church Street on Dec. 1.
- Approved the sale of surplus property.
- Approved an ordinance for a stop sign on Randolph Road at its intersection with Fairway Drive. The intersection was previously uncontrolled, and the ordinance also provides for punishment for violations of the stop sign.