Street light fee considered in St. Cloud

Money is tight at the city of St. Cloud, so city staffers are telling the City Council that they might have to turn off some street lights next year.

Director of Public Services Stephen Gaetz says if the council doesn't do something the city might have to shut off every other light or reduce the hours they stay lit.

His comment came Tuesday during a discussion of a proposal to create a special fund that would charge property owners a monthly rate for the public lights in their neighborhood.

Rates would vary from $1.20 a month to $3.60 a month, depending on the type of home and the amount of lighting in the neighborhood. Larger properties would pay more.

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If approved, the plan would take effect in 2010 and cover costs for 2,440 city-owned and 2,230 public utility-owned lights within St. Cloud.

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Information from: St. Cloud Times, http://www.sctimes.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)