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8.29.03 Natural gas street lights, a look subdivision likes Note inaccuracy in this story: M.U.D. ratepayers will not pay for this project. It will be paid for by our pipeline company. If a neighborhood is interested in having gas street lights installed, they should call 449.8245. A subdivision going up just west of Omaha will erect decorative natural-gas street lights in an effort to stand out from other subdivisions. Pacific Ridge's use of the street lights is odd for another reason -- the Metropolitan Utilities District, not the Omaha Public Power District, will provide and maintain the lights. The M.U.D. board will hear a presentation about the program today. OPPD, an electric utility, is responsible for Omaha's street lights and for lights in most surrounding areas. M.U.D. rarely, if ever, has handled street lights. MUD provides natural gas and water. Tom Falcone, the developer of the subdivision at 180th and Pacific Sts., said he wanted classy gas street lights. "It's just really a class act for a class neighborhood," Falcone said. He said the houses there would cost $350,000 to $700,000. Gas street lights were common in the early 1900s. M.U.D. will spend about $70,000 to purchase and install the 45 street lights, said John Nemecek, M.U.D.'s marketing director. Because M.U.D. sees it as a trial program that might lead to more opportunities, the utility will pick up the initial costs. The subdivision's sanitary and improvement district and homeowners association will cover ongoing costs after that. Nemecek said the street lights have a safety valve. If the gas line breaks, the gas flow stops. He said M.U.D. is interested in competing with OPPD in decorative street lights. OPPD offers decorative electric street lights. Mike Jones, an OPPD spokesman, said if a developer wants to assume the liability and cost of such street lights, that's up to him. |
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