Streetlights

So, the City of Great Falls wants to buy the streetlights. But first they will spend some unknown sum of our money to hire a consultant to study the issue.

One problem. Northwestern Energy doesn't want to sell their lights. Also, some of the problems noted by City Manager Lawton seem overblown.

For example, it has been suggested that, through various charges, Great Falls is subsidizing the rest of the state. I have learned, though, that there is no "local area rate" related to the vast majority of the streetlights. In other words, we are being treated the same as those similarly situated.

So, we'll hire an expensive consultant to prepare an expensive study to tell us to start an expensive process to buy an expensive asset. And we might have to litigate too.

And this will save us money?