LED-ing Bridge St. to a brighter future

Judy Welton will be stepping down from her post as a Saratoga Town Council member when her term expires early next year. She had one last idea she wanted to float before she returns to the life of a private citizen, however: year-round LED lights adorning the Bridge Avenue light posts.

"What I've heard is (merchants) really enjoy having (lights) on the polls and would like to leave them up year-round," Welton said at the Nov. 15 meeting of the council.

According to Saratoga Director of Public Works Jon Winter, there are 20 light poles up and down the street to be decorated. "If you did all of them, it would (cost) $400 to $800," Winter estimated, saying different qualities of bulbs could make for a price difference.

"As a downtown merchant, I would feel more comfortable donating my money to make my storefront ... than spending everybody else's money (on a beautification project)," council member Will Faust noted at the meeting. Welton's husband owns the Rustic Bar on Bridge Avenue, so in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, the council declined to use tax money for the project.

Instead, Welton began approaching each business owner with a letter asking for voluntary donations of between $50 and $100 each. Town work crews will still be in charge of maintaining and hanging the lights, in Welton's conception. All the business owners will have to do is chip in.

In a letter distributed to Bridge Avenue businesses, Welton asks local entrepreneurs to help ensure "Bridge Street stays lit." Contributions can be sent to the Town of Saratoga, at P.O. Box 486, Saratoga, WY 82331.