The Hamlet Town Council last week revisited the possibility of adding more streetlights on Starke Street. In 2016, the town installed decorative lights on the east side of the street, across from the town hall, as the first part of a four-phase project. But additional work has been put on hold, as the town council has focused instead on Community Crossings paving projects.
Last week, Engineer Lee Nagai asked if council members were interested in reviving the effort this year, if they could find $10,000 to $15,000 in their budget for another phase. While council members said they’re still interested, a potential Community Crossings project on Division Street appears to be the priority.
“If we apply for this Community Crossings and let’s say we don’t get approved this year for that, then obviously, we’ve got more money in there to do some individual projects like that,” said Council Member Brian Earnest.
He said that if the lighting project does move ahead, he’d like to continue north on the east side of Starke Street. “Personally, I think we keep on going and we go past the post office and go on that route because that needs it bad.”
Council President Dave Kesvormas again brought up the possibility of installing lights along the sidewalk leading to the trailer park and gas station on the north end of Hamlet. “Even though I think all the lights are working down there, it’s still dark, especially that twilight dark, you can’t see somebody until you’re right up on them,” Kesvormas said. “And it would look nice driving by on 30, seeing that as part of the entrance of the town.”
With that work, Nagai suggested splitting the installation into two phases to reduce the impact on the budget. He also offered to help with installation costs, if the town pays for the lights and the concrete pedestals. Nagai pointed out that conduit was already installed when the sidewalk was added.
