There will be new Christmas lights on the poles in downtown Kewanee this year, following action by the City Council Monday night.
The council voted to spend $54,325 to purchase a total of 86 new lights for $54,325 from Holiday Outdoor Decor, a Chicago-area firm. They also agreed to pay $12,750 for “White Glove Service.”
City Clerk Kasey Mitchell said the $12,750 will pay for the company to install the lights, then remove them after the season and store them in a temperature-controlled building.
They will also replace any of the LED bulbs that have burned out, she said.
Mitchell said this initial purchase will cover lights for Main Street from Central Boulevard to Loomis Street, and for three blocks to the west down the side streets into downtown Kewanee.
“The ones that we’re looking at are snowflakes,” she said. Since snowflakes are a winter theme, not necessarily a Christmas one, she said, the lights could be left up beyond the holidays.
Mitchell wrote in a report to the council, “Historically, the Chamber of Commerce has purchased, maintained, set up and taken down the decorations displayed throughout town. The current decorations are showing their age and are proving to be less durable throughout the winter weather.”
She added, “The goal is to purchase lights in stages and replace the lights currently installed by the Chamber. The first purchase will be for the downtown area. The hope is then to be able to purchase lights during the company’s end-of-season sales.”
City Manager Gary Bradley said Chamber of Commerce director Mark Mikenas has agreed for the chamber to continue to put up its lights down Main and Tenney streets.
Councilman Chris Colomer asked it the $12,750 “White Gloves” fee will cover any new lights the city buys in the future, and Mitchell said it will not. There is a charge of $150 per light for the service, she said.
