NEWS

Consumers Energy relents, OKs Urbandale holiday lights

Dillon Davis
Battle Creek Enquirer
Multiple lights and decorations can be seen outside of Chickie and Ron Morris' house in Union City.

Consumers Energy has struck a deal with the Urbandale-Level Park Area Business Association to allow holiday decorations on the company's utility poles.

The company said it reviewed the specific areas where the business association wants to attach lights and decorations and decided to allow access to the poles after initially denying the request. In the past two years, Consumers Energy declined the group access to its poles citing liability and safety concerns, ending nearly two decades of annual displays in the business district.

Lights out: Utility rejects Urbandale Christmas decor

"As part of its process for evaluating attachments to its utility poles, Consumers Energy field leadership reviewed the specific areas where the Urbandale Business Association would like to attach their holiday decorations," company spokesperson Roger Morgenstern said in a news release Friday. "After performing this review, and talking with association representatives, Consumers Energy has agreed to allow the decorations for this holiday season.

"However, if for operational issues Consumers Energy needs to access any of the poles, it will not be responsible for any damage to the decorations or replacing any moved decorations to perform needed work for its customers."

Story continues below

Holiday lights and decorations will be on display this year in Urbandale as Consumers Energy reversed a decision that denied the area's business association access to its utility poles.

Before 2015, the business association had a deal with company to hang lights and decorations from steel brackets that connect to power boxes to celebrate the holiday season. The association previously has installed lights and decorations in late November or early December, removed them in January and then paid Consumers Energy for the energy usage.

Earlier this week, Urbandale-Level Park Area Business Association President Keith Corts and Vice President Ron Sloma expressed disappointment about the utility's decision to deny the group access to the poles. Sloma said he "very much appreciates Consumers reconsidering" the decision. He said the group it planning to meet with company officials to determine how the installation will go, and is satisfied that Christmas lights will be on display in Urbandale this year.

"It was just a dark shadow over our Christmas celebration and the lights, they mean a lot to the religious people and to the people that aren't religious, it's a good feeling for your fellow man," Sloma said. "When we couldn't do it, it was a huge disappointment. Now they've reversed it and they made the right decision.

"There are going to be a lot of people in Urbandale that are going to be very happy."

Contact Dillon Davis at 269-966-0698 or dwdavis@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DillonDavis