Open Source: How do you get streetlights fixed?

MOUNT VERNON — Knox Pages reader Scott Smith took advantage of our Open Source forum to ask, “How do you get streetlights fixed that have not been working for a long time?”

That’s a question other readers ask, too.

Additionally, a West Burgess Street resident asked how to get a streetlight pole installed to replace one taken out several years ago when a tree fell on it.

According to Mount Vernon Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers, American Electric Power manages streetlights. If one needs replacing, “That’s an AEP thing.”

Salyers said residents can call his office at 740-393-9520 and report an outage.

Additionally, the city launched a new feature yesterday:  questions@mountvernonohio.org. Residents can report streetlight outages — or potholes — there.

“There’s a plate on the streetlight post you can use, or you can just report the address,” Salyers said.

An AEP representative said residents can call AEP directly using the number on their electric bill or report it on AEP’s website.

“We do not have a system where we check the lights routinely,” Salyers said. “We try our best, but if anyone sees a problem, feel free to report it themselves. You don’t have to wait for us to do it.

“When we are all working together, we can get things done.”

In the case of the West Burgess Street resident, Salyers was uncertain whether a citizen could ask for a replacement pole. 

“AEP owns the pole,” Salyers said. “But the resident can reach out to the safety-service office, and we’ll check into it.”

In the meantime

Earlier this month, City Councilman Mel Severns talked with AEP. The upshot of the conversation was that city crews would canvas the city, collecting addresses of nonfunctioning streetlights and reporting them to AEP. 

Salyers said address collection will start after the first of the year. However, he cautioned it will take time.

“We talked about getting some interns, which would save on overtime for city crews, and doing a street light audit,” Salyers said. “It’s not just a lighting issue; it’s a crime issue, too. We’re looking at reports of theft, for example, to see if it correlates with our streetlights.

“We’re working with the police department to see if, while they are out, they can make a note and then report back to the safety-service office,” he added.

Townships and villages

There are pockets in the city where boundaries move from city to township and back to city.

“If we pass through a township street to get to another street in the city, we’ll probably check the streetlights on the township street,” Salyers said.

However, Smith, our Knox Pages reader, lives in a subdivision in Clinton Township. Clinton Township trustees said residents can call them or report the outage directly to AEP.

Fredericktown Village Administrator Bruce Snell said reporting nonfunctioning streetlights in the village is a group effort.

Residents are welcome to report streetlight outages directly to AEP, but Snell said it’s best to report them to his office.

“If they know the pole number, that’s fine, but if not, we’ll drive by and check it out. It’s better to call us because I’ll drive by and take a picture of the pole number,” he explained. “Then I’ll report it to AEP.

“Our police check for lights when patrolling,” he said, adding that AEP is good about fixing the lights.

Centerburg, Danville, and Gambier residents can also report outages to their respective village offices or directly to AEP.

Centerburg Mayor Greg Sands said village crews try to check lights every week. 

“If something goes out that we don’t know about, letting us know is a backup,” he said. “Sometimes, as consumers, residents have more power than we do about getting someone out here to get them fixed.”