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SALEM -- Perry Township trustees are holding off on any change to their street lighting program with Ohio Edison, but may research whether a reassessment can take place for what residents pay.
Ohio Edison/First Energy spokesman Troy Rhoades explained the street lighting options Monday, noting that switching to all LED will increase the township's monthly street lighting bill by nearly $350, not counting the $25,000 cost to install the bulbs on 120 poles.
He said another option would be a monthly payment plan to cover the $25,000 installation cost, which would come out to $532 per month for 60 months including an additional $7,000 for interest. That's on top of the monthly fee of $1,196 for street lighting.
A third option would be a gradual changing of the bulbs to LED as bulbs go bad and need changed, but that would mean the township couldn't go back to the current program. As each bulb changed to LED, the higher cost would be charged for that bulb. Eventually, he said Ohio Edison won't be using anything but LED as availability of the other type of bulbs stops.
Before introducing Rhoades, Trustee Chair Steve Bailey said the township has been spending more money on street lighting than what's coming in for street lighting through a tax assessment on property owners included in the lighting program.
Through this program, known as the Efficiency Safety Incentive Program, the utility changes any bulbs that go out at no cost.
To report a street light out, residents need to call 1-888-544-4877 and provide the address where the pole is located. Rhoades also suggested tying a ribbon on the pole to mark it so workers know that's the pole in question on a particular street or road since they'll come during daylight hours.
For the assessment, Rhoades suggested trustees bring it up with the community. He said some entities do a reassessment for a higher amount every so often to keep up with the cost, adding "you're not the only community that has gotten away from staying up on this."
Bailey said the township better just see what is needed to break even and stay on the old program since a change to LED will cost more.
Trustee Jim Armeni, who had asked about the street lighting at a previous meeting, said he's researching whether they can legally do a reassessment or not.
In other business, Bailey reported he received a call from Tad Herold, director of the Columbiana County Development Department, who indicated he could help the township with setting up a Community Reinvestment Area. A CRA can give a tax break to residents or industrial/commercial companies for new construction or remodeling.
Steps include approaching the Columbiana County Board of Commissioners, since they have to sign off on it, then completing a home survey by taking photographs of homes and prepare an application.
Bailey had previously brought up the idea of a CRA and said trustees would have to figure out what kind of abatement they want to offer. There would also have to be a housing officer appointed. For residential, they could give a 100 percent abatement for 15 years for the new value or they could do something more progressive with a smaller percentage.
He noted anything over 50 percent for commercial or industrial must be approved by the school board, but the school board has no say for residential.
The trustees didn't take a vote, but indicated they're still interested in going forward. Bailey asked his fellow trustees to start thinking about how big of an abatement they want to give.
The application to establish a CRA in the township will require county and state approval.
The next trustees meeting will be 4 p.m. May 24 at the administration building off of North Ellsworth Avenue.