Street lights

When a story in the Southeast Missourian last week called attention to street lights in need of repair, several issues came into focus: First, if it's a question of maintaining electricity for Cape Girardeau's homes, businesses, schools, factories and hospitals, there's no question that street lights will be at the bottom of any priority list at AmerenUE, the utility that provides electricity here.

Second, the city has a right to expect that street lights will be maintained in a timely way. The city pays Ameren more than a quarter of a million dollars a year for upkeep on most of the city's 3,000 lights.

Third, lights that aren't working should be promptly reported. The city's public works department keeps track of those reports and keeps Ameren regularly updated.

Fourth, Ameren makes a good point when it says 98 percent of the lights are working, even though extenuating circumstances might cause longer delays in repairing some lights, particularly those with underground wiring.

So what has been learned from all of this?

Street lights are so much a part of our community that we take them for granted -- until they go off. For many good reasons, those lights should be repaired as soon as possible. Ameren demonstrated with its quick response last week that those repairs don't have to be put off for a long time.

Together, the city and Ameren make sure Cape Girardeau residents enjoy all the benefits of a service on which we depend so heavily. And that includes street lights that work.