New Treasure Island commissioner balks at renting holiday lights

TREASURE ISLAND -- Newly elected commissioner Carol Coward insisted Tuesday she was not trying to be a Scrooge, but she opposed a city plan to lease new holiday lights. “It’s not that I am against Christmas decorations, but if we can’t afford to pave the causeway and 107th Avenue, in my opinion we can’t afford to lease lights for five years. Let’s put up what we’ve got.”

But then City Manager Reid Silverboard pointed out that of 100 pole-mounted lighted decorations, “only two are safe” to use. Most have electrical shorts because of disintegrated wiring insulation, he said.
The commission faced three choices — no decorations this year, buying new decorations at an estimated cost of $45,000, or renting decorations over the next five years at a total cost of $16,000.

“The city would miss the decorations if they weren’t there. The cheapest and most expeditious way to go would be to rent them,” said commissioner Phil Collins.

The rest of the commission agreed, but Coward insisted the city does not have enough money and voted “no.”

 Sheila Mullane Estrada, Times correspondent

Comments

[Zen Master]

I agree with her. It is a matter of priorities. Infrastructure or 1 month of pretty lights. Not too mention the cost of the electricy also.

It reminds me of the Titanic. The band playing on as the water laps over them.

[awhitewolf]

...I bet the vendor that is leasing the decorations is jumping for joy...I wonder how much he had to pay for this contract...???...

[Donkey Bite]

$45,000? is that for 5 years or one year?
In any case it's Hooey. Too many people are making too much for too little, providing non essential services to cities.

[TI]

Have they considered putting up the decorations and not lighting them? That way you don't spend money on power for the lights, don't have to rent anything, and still get decorations up around town.

[Paul]

Is there any question?

Either let the hotels and other businesses sponsor a pole.

Who benefits?

If not rent. In five years purchased lights would be useless anyhow.

So rent, contributions from businesses?

[:(]

Public officials need to get their priorities straight. Carol Coward is the only Treasure Island official who got it right!

[Think Outside the Box]

Treasure Island City Hall:

Think outside the box.

Offer a $5,000 bounty to anyone who can find 100 pole-mounted lighted decorations in good condition from some other city.

Plenty of other local governments (or states -- try California) who are hurting for cash who will sell their holiday gear cheap.

Or hire PTEC electrician students at to rewire the 98 unsafe decorations.

Or hire returning veterans from Iraq with legs blown off by IEDs. They would be thrilled to have the work and feel good about themselves again. Call Bay Pines.

[Color Lights]

Treasure Island's white only holiday lights looked dreary compared to St Pete Beach and Madeira Beach along Gulf Blvd.

Get colored lights or install colored lights while rewiring the old decorations.

[Boaz Greenburg, Treasue Island]

$45,000 for lights? Why not stop by Big Lots and get them for cheap?

[Capt. Sunset]

Instead of holiday lights, perhaps Treasure Island should put up markers noting the height of Category 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 storm surges, or banners thanking the rest of the nation for subsidizing its criminally-low flood insurance rates.

[gloria]

give the hook to troxler

[Ann]

About time an elected official realized that in times of economic hardship even governments need to think rationally. $45,000....$16,000 and you can't afford to pave needed roads....someone should elect this woman Governor!