Lexington council divided on street light ordinance

Street lights remain a topic of discussion after the town council met on Monday, Oct. 19.

After town officials presented the council with four options for updating Lexington’s outdated lighting ordinance during its last work session, council members remain undecided on the next steps.

“I recommend we phase this out,” Councilman Todd Lyle said. “I find no mechanism where we can pay for this without taxing everyone. So, in light of the code and confirming the code we are applying was written in 1986 … that was a different time and place. There were fewer subdivisions and fewer production builders coming in and doing significantly smaller lots and putting a lot more lighting than what was contemplated when that 1986 ordinance was written.

“In light of all that, I would be strongly in favor of and be very discouraged by anyone who would pick another decision than Option 3 based on the fact that you are asking everyone to be taxed through millage to pay for something that not everyone can enjoy.”

Councilman Gavin Smith countered Lyle’s stance on the town’s financial responsibility for street lights by suggesting the town reduce its franchise fee and return the savings to taxpayers.

“If we are going to eliminate funding it, then I would propose that we reduce our franchise fee,” Smith said. “Why are we collecting 5% when we are not giving them the benefit of what we told them we were going to do in the first place? So that’s fine — if we want to eliminate paying for street lights altogether, then let’s give the money back to the taxpayer. Let’s reduce the franchise fee or millage, one of the two.

“Those citizens are paying a franchise fee and they are receiving a benefit, or at least should be. Otherwise, what are we collecting the money for? … We are taxing them for a public benefit, but we are not providing them with a public benefit.”

Smith made a motion to update the land development ordinance and bring it to a vote at the next meeting, allowing the Lexington Planning Commission to review the proposed changes and provide feedback. The council voted unanimously to place the item on the next meeting’s agenda.

Staff members clarified that after the council receives feedback from the Planning Commission on proposed updates to the town’s street light requirements in the land development ordinance, members can discuss the financial implications.

The Lexington Town Council is scheduled to hold its next regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at 111 Maiden Lane.