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LARGO — Residents on Starkey Road want one. Residents on Belcher Road want one. So do people who live or work near Whitney Road, Woodrow Avenue and Pine Tree Avenue.
Streetlights are in high demand in Largo, where a list for requested lights includes 23 entries dating to 2007. The people waiting on more lights will likely be left in the dark for a while longer, though, as the city continues to try to keep costs down in a poor economy.
Mary Freeman tried to become No. 24 on that list in December. Freeman, 68, has lived in Golf Lake Condominiums on Starkey Road for four years, but still has trouble finding the entrance at night. Many of her neighbors like to walk up Starkey to Acropol Family Restaurant, and Freeman thinks the poorly lit road could cause an accident, among other potential problems.
"It's sort of like an invitation for crime when it's so dark," said Freeman, a retired manager for a home security company. Freeman asked City Commissioner Michael Smith for an extra streetlight in December, and Smith asked the city staff.
Streets and Stormwater Manager Bob Nowak replied. Nowak said Starkey is county-maintained from East Bay Drive to Ulmerton Road, so Freeman needs to ask Pinellas County for a light. But even if Largo maintained that part of Starkey, Freeman would not be getting a new light.
"Because of the limitations of the current city budget, there are no funds available to do more than maintain existing lights," Nowak wrote. "Also, because of our continuing budget limitations, the city is actively looking for ways to reduce the number of streetlights that we have to maintain."
The average light costs about $13 per month to maintain, according to Jonathan Evans, assistant to the city manager. The estimate includes energy, fuel, maintenance and pole rental. There are 3,146 streetlights in Largo, according to Progress Energy bills. There are 572 lights along state roads, and the city gets reimbursed $105,934 per year for them. Largo pays about $400,000 per year to maintain its lights, Evans wrote in an email this week.
Evans pointed out that, contrary to Nowak's comments, the city has no plans to eliminate streetlights. Any such plan would need City Commission approval first, Evans noted. If Mayor Pat Gerard's reaction is any indication, getting rid of streetlights would be a tough sell.
"I was kind of surprised to see that," Gerard said. "We are certainly looking for many ways to save money, but that shouldn't be one of them . . . I don't think there's any place in the city that's overlit."
Freeman plans to ask the county if it will consider adding a light, and has also asked her homeowners association. "In this economy, I'm probably being silly, but I just would like to see more lights," she said. "But if they don't have the money, I understand."
Will Hobson can be reached at (727) 445-4167 or whobson@tampabay.com. To write a letter to the editor, go to tampabay.com/letters.
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