West Houghton resident Liz Gerson speaks in opposition to proposed street lights in her neighborhood during a public hearing last week. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette photo)

HOUGHTON — West Houghton residents will have a few more months to let the city and their neighbors know if streetlights should be added in their neighborhood.

Wednesday, the Houghton City Council discussed the results of a survey sent to homes in the areas west of M-26. It had been prompted by requests from some residents who wanted to see additional street lighting in the subdivisions for safety reasons. Existing lights are mostly restricted to the intersections with Sharon Avenue.

Residents received a card showing 10 proposed locations for lights, asking them to indicate their opinion or lack thereof for each spot.

If the lights go forward, they wouldn’t necessarily be in the same spot. City Manager Eric Waara said the spots chosen in the survey were based on how close they were to the existing Upper Peninsula Power Co. power sources.

Overall, 77 residents backed the lights, 38 were against and 10 had no opinion.

Two residents both opposed to the lights, spoke at a public hearing on the issue Wednesday night.

Jill Johnson asked the council to take more time before making a permanent decision. Most of the walkers in her neighborhood carry lamps or flashlights when they walk, she said. She worried lights could impact the experience of the neighborhood, whether wildlife like flying squirrels or unimpeded views of the Northern Lights.

“I’m out with our dogs a lot in the evening, and the early morning hours when it’s dark,” she said. “Those people are out there usually for the same reason: to enjoy the ambient lighting of the moon and stars, the quietness of our neighborhood.”

Mayor Pro Tem Joan Suits, who has lived in west Houghton since 1995, said she wants the city to maintain an ongoing discussion with residents. The ones she’s talked to in favor of the plan would still like to have a say in where the lights are located, she said.

“It’s not an overwhelming majority (in favor of lights), but it is a majority, and I think it would behoove us to try and benefit as many residents as we can,” she said.

Suits also suggested looking for lights that would mitigate the sky lighting effects, addressing one of the most common resident concerns.

The council voted to table the issue until its first council meeting in February. Councilor Mike Needham, who made the motion, also asked that the city send another survey before that meeting.

“I think it’ll give passionate people in the neighborhoods more time to talk to their neighbors, which they didn’t necessarily get this time … that’s more powerful than us sitting here and having an opinion about their neighborhood,” he said.

In other action, the council:

≤ Approved an additional $16,500 in matching funds for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to purchase turnout gear without PFAS for the fire department. The match increase is to offset the rising price of the gear, which now costs $83,000.

“Years ago when I joined the department, we had gloves that had asbestos, we had jackets that had asbestos, and we had pants that had asbestos,” said Councilor Robert Megowen. “And it’s always nice to see this council support our fire department.”

≤ Voted 5-2 to appoint Tim Scarlett to the Portage Lake District Library Board for a term expiring March 31, 2026. Councilors Megowen, Needham and Bob Backon first voted for Rachel Lankton, whose nomination was defeated 4-3. Needham then joined the majority in voting for Scarlett, to make it clear he wouldn’t vote against him arbitrarily and because he thought Scarlett would “be very excellent also.”

≤ Heard from Waara the Lakeshore Drive project should be completed in the next two to three weeks. Poles for the waterfront lighting between Shelden avenue and Lakeshore Drive will be installed shortly.

≤ Heard from Waara that Waste Management will be reaching out to the city with a list of residents to contact about placing cans properly. There have continued to be issues with pickup with the new trucks introduced in recent months. In some cases, Waste Management has identified cans that are placed backwards, too far from the curb, or too close together.