HomeMy WebLinkAbout[10a] Request to turn off Water Tower Lights
Council Agenda Item 10a
MEETING DATE:
March 16, 2015
AGENDA ITEM:
Request to Turn Water Tower Lights Off
SUBMITTED BY:
Administration
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City received a request from Wayne Birkholz requesting the
City Council turn off the water tower lights (those that shine on the skyline) in honor of earth hour. In
talking to the Public Works Director, the only logistical way for that to occur is if we have a staff person
come in to turn the lights off for that hour. Based on the labor contract the City would have to pay a two
hour call out, incurring a cost of approximately $ 110.00.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT:
ATTACHMENTS:
Request for Council Action
Email requesting lights off
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION:
Provide direction to staff
This page intentionally left blank
From: Wayne Birkholz \[mailto:wdbirk@hotmail.com\]
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 9:30 AM
To: Judy Weyrens
Cc: rschultz25@msn.com; bobloso@q.com; Matt Killam; symanietzrenee@gmail.com; Dale Wick
Subject: Turn off lights on St. Joe water tower: Earth Hour 2015
Dear Ms. Weyrens and city council members:
I would like to request the city of St. Joseph to shut off the lights on the St. Joseph water tower in observance
of Earth Hour 2015.
Earth Hour is a global awareness campaign to promote responsible use of our
limited resources and to educate people about global climate change.
To join in the effort, we are asked to simply turn off all unnecessary lights for one hour on March 28th, at 8:30 PM
local time. However, I also ask that the lights be turned off permanently at some near term time frame.
We are all charged with acting responsibly as individuals in our public actions, city government is no exception.
The lights are unnecessary, produce many negative consequences and is simply a waste of resources.
I would like this matter to be placed on the city council agenda on March 16, 2015 to be considered for immediate
action.
More information about Earth Hour can be found at earthhour.org A web search on the detrimental effects of
light pollution should also convince you it is the right thing to do.
If I can provide more information to aid in the discussion, I will be happy to do so.
Sincerely,
Wayne Birkholz
447 Elena Lane
St. Joseph, MN 56374
1
This page intentionally left blank