Marion renews push to upgrade holiday lights
Staff writer
Marion’s Main St. Christmas lights have graced the city for decades, and now a final push is being made to upgrade them.
Any lights replaced by the city these past two years were changed from incandescent to LED bulbs but not all establishments were in favor of the update, city administrator Roger Holter said.
“It’s still an option for the owner of the business,” he said. “You all decide what you want to do. We simply want to offer the service because we believe it adds to the ambiance of the entire town.”
The cost of $3.50 per foot includes labor and replacement of bulbs.
Switching to LED lights makes sense because they last longer and are more durable than incandescent bulbs, Holter said.
“Incandescent bulbs use a fine wire filament inside and those are more susceptible to vibrations, and the high winds that would cause the lights to hit against something else,” he said.
Marion Wellness Center, Farm Bureau Financial Services, Marion Lutheran Church, and Subway are among the businesses that chose the switch to LEDs.
The Historic Elgin Hotel’s lights were switched to LEDs for one day along with several other businesses, but co-owner Tammy Ensey thought the incandescent lights had a warmer glow and meshed with the image she was looking for.
The hotel’s lights have since been changed to LEDs with a warmer tint, as opposed to those with a bluish hue that are more common.
Last modified Nov. 26, 2020