Town engineering staff asked the council Jan. 13 for direction on median street lighting standards for Clay Road, South Collins Road and the future north phase of Collins. The town’s current UDO specifies a decorative pole style that Encore (the electric utility’s streetlight tariff) does not supply or maintain, creating a mismatch between the UDO and available utility options.

Staff explained there are tradeoffs between Encore‑maintained standard poles (lower monthly tariff but limited styles and no attachments) and town‑owned decorative poles (permit banners, outlets and larger aesthetic poles but higher recurring costs and town maintenance). Staff recommended extending the decorative Collins Road standard already installed in front of Town Hall to the Collins corridor north of U.S. 80 and to the residential portion of Clay Road up to the Encore transmission right‑of‑way, while leaving the existing cobra‑head fixtures in place in the industrial/Encore corridor to the south.

Council discussed banner sizes, durability and whether to require metered outlets or town‑owned maintenance. Council member Danny asked whether solar‑powered poles were feasible; staff said solar lighting can work for trails and low‑illumination locations but typically does not provide the consistent output and reliability needed for major arterials because of seasonal overcast and battery limitations. Council members suggested staff continue the decorative standard and extend it through to Long Creek; staff said they will evaluate banner arm sizes and return with technical specs and cost estimates.

The discussion was advisory (no ordinance change was adopted that evening); staff said any formal UDO amendments to reflect a new lighting standard would be presented to council later.