Grosse Pointe Shores to replace worn-out streetlights

GROSSE POINTE SHORES — Grosse Pointe Shores plans to replace some of its 287 streetlights, many of which are original to the subdivisions where they’re located.

After first considering this expenditure during an Aug. 20 Shores City Council meeting, the council voted 5-1 Sept. 17 in favor of the purchase and installation of some lights to replace the ones that are in the worst condition.

On Sept. 17, Department of Public Works Director Michael Way said the city put out a request for quotes on the Michigan Inter-governmental Trade Network, which solicits bids nationwide. The city received three bids and accepted the lowest of these — from Graybar — for 25 new streetlight poles, at a cost of $1,607.53 per pole, and 27 new bases, at a cost of $506.45 per base. Graybar’s total bid was for $53,862.40.

Although they’re only installing 17 new light poles now, Way said they needed to order at least 25 to get free shipping. In addition, the city always needs to keep some extra poles and bases on hand because they periodically get damaged or knocked over by vehicles in accidents. In those cases, Way said, the city tries to get reimbursed from the motorist’s insurance company for the cost of a new pole and installation of the same.

Way said the city’s contractor evaluated every streetlight in the city and determined that about 17 to 18 needed to be replaced immediately. The new poles and bases will be aluminum, as Way said galvanized steel would cost twice as much. He said the current bases are already aluminum, meaning only the old poles were galvanized steel.

At the Aug. 20 council meeting, City Manager Stephen Poloni said some of the lights “are rusting” and deteriorating, making them a liability if they fall on a person or vehicle.

“This is not an aesthetic issue,” Poloni said in August. “It’s more of an issue of them failing.”

City Councilman Robert Barrette, who said he used to examine streetlights as part of his job at DTE Energy, agreed.

“There’s quite a few that need to be replaced,” Barrette said in August.

“A lot of these poles are 25 to 30 years old,” Barrette added.

While the Shores DPW maintains the streetlights, installation of the new poles and bases will be done by an outside electrical contractor. Fresard Electric submitted the winning bid, at a minimum cost of $1,080 per pole and a maximum cost of $2,000 per pole for installation. The city plans to install 17 streetlights now, at a maximum cost of $34,000.

At the Sept. 17 meeting, City Councilwoman Danielle Gehlert cast the vote in opposition to the purchase and installation of streetlights.

“I’m very skeptical about the costs. … We need a (new) elevator in this building,” Gehlert said, referring to Shores City Hall.

She said she felt an elevator was a bigger priority than the streetlights.

Barrette was absent from the Sept. 17 meeting.

Way said this is the first time the city has had to buy these lights directly. In the past, he said, they were able to get them from a contractor. However, he said this time, the city couldn’t even get replacement poles from DTE Energy or its supplier, requiring the Shores to cast a wider net to obtain this equipment.

Although this project wasn’t budgeted, Poloni said in August that funds were available in the major and local street fund for the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year and could be used to pay for this. He said they planned to replace the streetlights in phases, with this being the first phase.

As Mayor Ted Kedzierski pointed out Aug. 20, the Shores is the only one of the Pointes to own its streetlights.