A map of the where more than 900 street lights will be changed from high-pressure sodium bulbs to more energy-efficient LED fixtures and lights. Submitted photo

The discussion on how to continue improving the aesthetics of downtown Jamestown continued Thursday with officials from the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities.

During the city Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission meeting, several BPU officials discussed various topics surrounding solid waste collection and street lighting. Jim Alexander, BPU solid waste/wastewater supervisor, said the BPU provides residential, commercial and dumpster solid waste services for the downtown area.

He said that besides the BPU, there are also seven other businesses that provide solid waste removal services to downtown During the discussion, the topic of needing to use a garbage can with a lid came up, which was a hot topic issue for BPU solid waste collection at the beginning of the year. Several citizens had previously contacted their Jamestown City Council representatives with questions about needing to use a garbage container with a lid after it was emphasized on the annual BPU recycling calendar. The questions from concerned citizens prompted BPU officials to attend a council work session meeting in January to explain solid waste requirements.

David Leathers, BPU general manager, said for years there has been a requirement in the city charter that all solid waste must be collected in a can with a lid. He said BPU officials wanted to highlight this so more people would start to use a garbage can with a lid to help control the spread of infestation from insects like cockroaches. Currently, there is no financial penalty for residents who don’t use a container with a lid. It was also mentioned that all solid waste collection is supposed to be done in a container with a lid, just not for those who are BPU customers.

Alexander highlighted some of the challenges to solid waste collection in the downtown, which included parked cars blocking garbage, limited access to alleys, parking lots, driveways for trash collection and a lack of space for garbage dumpsters. He also said another challenge is that when downtown development projects are being planned, trash collection needs are often neglected.

Greg Rabb, council president and commission co-chair, said perhaps BPU officials should give their presentation to the city Planning Commission about downtown solid waste collection so the members can be more aware of remembering future trash collection needs when reviewing site plans for future development projects.

In other commission business, Chris Rodgers, BPU transmission and distribution manager, provided a presentation on street lighting. He said recent projects in the urban core include reconductor projects to replace cables in electric circuits along Cherry, Pine and Third streets; contactor relay switches and electrical controls replacement along Pine Street and at the Hotel Jamestown; and conduit repair at Fourth and Main streets. He added that BPU officials also do a lighting audit before all downtown events like Lucy Comedy Fest and the Christmas parade to make sure burned out lights are replaced.

The discussion on downtown lighting turned to how there are several different styles from “cobrahead” to ornamental fixtures. Commission members asked the BPU officials if it would be possible to coordinate the lighting fixtures to be similar. Leathers said it would take a lot of funding to completely change all the lighting fixtures to one style in the downtown. He said that BPU officials are more than willing to participate in discussions on how to possibly make the change.

Rabb said the commission should form a subcommittee on downtown lighting so they can start working toward applying for a state Consolidated Funding Application grant next year to fund new matching lighting fixtures.

Rodgers also discussed the conversion from high-pressure sodium bulbs to more energy-efficient LED fixtures and lights for more than 900 street lights in the city. The conversion won’t be taking place in the downtown, but Rodgers said five sewerage areas of the city were selected for the lighting change. He said there are more than 3,500 street lights in the city.

Last year, the Jamestown City Council discussed entering into a contract with the Department of State Division of Local Government Services to receive $555,000 to convert 900 existing high-pressure sodium street lights to more energy-efficient LED fixtures and lights.

Next month, Kathleen Eads, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts executive director and commission co-chair, said the commission will be discussing buses and parking in the downtown area. The commission is slated to meet at 8:30 am. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the city Municipal Building, located at 200 E. Third St.

The Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission is a group of volunteers who meet at least once a month to study and discuss various methods of improving life in the community. The commission was created to continuously consider, develop and make recommendations for strategic initiatives to the Jamestown City Council and other organizations within the city.