Residents on Litzsinger Road in Brentwood will have those too-bright, new street lights dimmed. The lights are part of a project to make Litzsinger more pedestrian-friendly, but home owners say the lights, specified by project engineers, are too bright at night. Monday night Brentwood officials voted 6-2 to spend $9,825 for electronic dimmers.
City Administrator Bola Akande said the lights meet the project engineers’ specifications. She also said the engineers made the decision to use dimmers; they could have gone with shields, which would have been less expensive.
Ward 3 Alderman Andy Leahy asked if the dimmers can be adjusted if the lights are dimmed too much. He said it comes down to residents’ “personal feelings” how they like their lights, and they should just use window blinds to block the light.
Ward 4 Alderman Kathy O’Neill asked if this could lead to residents all over the city requesting street light modifications. She said she has a bright light outside her window and uses a blind. Mayor Chris Thornton said the difference with the light by her residence and the ones on Litzsinger is that Ameren owns it, and not the city.
Ward 1 Alderman David Dimmitt — the lights are in Ward 1 — said he is taking the residents at their word, that the lights are a problem.
Leahy and O’Neill cast the only no votes.
Bill limiting how close convicted sex offenders can be to schools, childcare facilities
Officials passed a bill that limits convicted sex offenders to be no closer than 1,000 feet from schools, child care or similar facilities. City attorney, Kevin O’Keefe said this would broaden a state law already in effect.
Maddenfest video
City officials also approved spending $7,543 for a promotional video featuring Maddenfest (Brentwood Days).
Leahy asked if the city is trying to attract Brentwood residents, and not non-residents, to Madenfest, why is the video being made? He also asked bout the cost. He said he remembered when Kevin McCarthy made videos for the city it was less. Akande told him McCarthy was a city employee.
Thornton called the video a “building block” in marketing material the city is developing to attract families and businesses to Brentwood.
Conflicts of interest bill
The aldermen also passed a ordinance — first and second readings — to require elected officials to disclose property they own in the city. Leahy said conflict of interest was never raised by the state auditor, and it’s never been a problem. He said board members have recused themselves in the past when needed.
Steve Lochmoeller said the bill doesn’t go far enough, that it should also include appointed officials to city boards. A vote to send the bill back to ways and means, to have them consider including appointed officials in the ordinance, and adding lease hold interests and campaign contributions as well, failed 4-5, with Thornton breaking the tie.
Aldermen Dimmitt, Plufka, Sims and Slusser voted to keep the bill on the floor. Aldermen Kramer, Leahy, Lochmoeller and O’Neill voted to send the bill back to ways and means. Thornton broke the tie, saying, “I will take as much disclosure and transparency as this board is willing to give me.”
In the final vote Kramer and O’Neill cast the only no votes.
Alderman Slusser resigns
At the end of the meeting Ward 2 Alderman Keith Slusser announced his resignation from the board, saying he is moving to Ward 1, so he must resign as Ward 2 alderman. His replacement will be appointed.
Brentwood – you should always ask but really should require the engineer or contractor for a 15 minute live demo when choosing light fixtures. The light post are very pretty and add character to Litzsinger during the day when they are off. Brentwood High School football team has enough light to play a game in those Litzsinger yards the way they are now. Not to mention how those CREE LEDs hurt the eyes at night. You’re probably not surprised by now on how many contractors are out there with speedboats named “change order”.
Dave – put yourself in their shoes. Would put up with a stupid oversight like that? Hope not.
See exhibit A:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUvzzEtNevY
With transparency being the new norm, who is doing the video, how were they chosen, why were they chosen and with an amount that high, was there a bidding process?
Our company does videos and i agree with Kevin, that amount is way out of line –
So the lights will be dimmed, someone is going to get hurt in the future due due improper lighting, the city will be sued, and the lights turned back up. I can see this happening. People who live nearby should just shut their window blinds. Problem solved.
Sorry, the Slusser guy was a bit arrogant for me. Everytime I got to that part on YouTube I always skipped past him.
Mr. Mayor,
I take exception to your comments regarding my videos of Brentwood Days. Your racist comment about “Bell Bottoms and Afros” is way out of line! I do not recall any of that being in the videos I produced for more than 10 years!!
I was also present, and taping all day, each day of Brentwood Days and gave the City a total perspective of the entire event! This included inter-activity with residents etc.
B-TV also had regular features from, and about, the School District to include a news segment from the students. The Brentwood Library was featured with a children’s “Story Time at the Library” We aired a health show hosted by school nurse Emily Wynn, The Brentwood Business Beat featuring local Brentwood businesses, The Brentwood Report, featuring local residents, business openings, events and history of Brentwood, a State of the City report from the Mayor and more.
The channel also featured programs from the State of Missouri regarding legislative updates and economic development and more.
Trust me, the city got “what they paid for” and a lot more!
I might add that it was without a racist attitude or comment!!
$7543.00 is a RIDICULOUS amount to pay for a “building block” video! Does this mean that more overpriced videos are forthcoming?
Somebody is lining their pockets with this deal!
Thank you, Mayor Thornton, for bright lining the words transparency and public input. These methods of conducting business of the City go a very long way, gaining resident’s trust in the Administration, Mayoral Chamber and BOA. Second note, Keith Slusser was good at what he did. Thank you for your work.
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