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The cost of street lights in Davenport

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By David Heitz | Wednesday, June 18, 2008 |

Q: How many street lights are there in the city of Davenport? How is the city charged for the electricity since there are no meters?

— Antoine, Davenport

A: There are about 8,000 street lights, more than 1,400 alley lights and 35 park lights that are owned and maintained by MidAmerican Energy Co., according to staff in the Public Works Department. The lights vary in wattage from 100 to

400 and are billed to the city of Davenport at a flat monthly rate according to wattage.

In addition to the lights owned by MidAmerican, the city owns about 900 street lights scattered throughout the city, mainly in the downtown area and on top of traffic signals. Those lights owned by the city are billed at “energy only” rates by MidAmerican, again according to wattage. All rates charged to the city for street lights are dictated by the tariff filed with the Iowa Utilities Board.

Q: Utica Ridge Road from Forest Grove north to the Davenport city limits has always been a mass of potholes. For each of the past 13 years, we have watched the city of Davenport spend hundreds and hundreds of man hours making temporary fixes. The effort is there, but the fixes are like Band-Aids. Is anybody keeping track of how expensive this ineffective maintenance is? Wouldn’t it have been more economical to resurface it years ago?

— Nancy, Eldridge, Iowa

A: Public Works Department staff reports that Utica Ridge Road is a sealcoated street that requires maintenance in the spring. The City Council has not prioritized the street for construction funding. It is in the capital improvement long-range needs.

Davenport has limited funds for street improvement, and the council must focus on road repair and replacement of streets that have the highest travel volume by its residents, according to public works staff.

Q: What happened to Tim Carlson who was on WLLR radio in the afternoon and during late nights? I’m a big country music fan, and I miss him!

— Carol, Davenport

A: Jim O’Hara, program director at WLLR, said Carlson no longer works at the station. “I’m sorry to say that Tim left our employ in December 2007 when a reorganization of staff talent was preformed and various job duties were reassigned. I’m not sure where he’s working now, but I’m sure he’ll do well as he’s a terrific talent. All of us at WLLR wish him the best.”

Q: I saw a man with a cowboy hat made from an 18-pack beer can carton. I am looking for instructions to make such a hat. Where can I find the instructions? I am hoping to make one or several in time for RAGBRAI.

— Pam, Bennett, Iowa

A: Since this question came via e-mail, I trust that you have a computer, Pam. Your favorite search engine, such as Yahoo or Google, can do wonders. Just type in “beer box cowboy hat.” I did and instructions from various sites popped right up.