The Buckeye City Council scaled back plans this week for a proposed downtown lighting project after several council members raised concerns over the $600,000 price tag and the timing of the work.
During a recent council meeting, Amy Murray, the city’s Public Works director, presented a Capital Improvement Project proposal to install decorative string lights along Monroe Avenue between Third and Seventh streets as part of ongoing efforts to enhance downtown Buckeye’s appearance and nighttime atmosphere.
Murray said the project would include a standalone electrical system designed to improve lighting and visibility in the downtown corridor.
Much of the projected cost stems from the need to install new poles, estimated at roughly $19,000 each, because existing utility poles owned by Arizona Public Service are not suitable for the installation.
The proposal sparked discussion among councilmembers over whether the investment should move forward while major sewer infrastructure work is already planned for the same area during fiscal years 2028-29.
Councilmember Craig Heustis questioned the overall cost of the project, arguing the improvements would benefit only a limited number of downtown businesses and could ultimately be disrupted by the upcoming sewer construction.
”I’m not against downtown, Heustis said. “I very much want to see this downtown grow and prosper but … we’re looking for $600,000 to be spent for the population that comes down here for three restaurants after 2 o’clock in the afternoon.”
Heustis suggested approving $50,000 for the engineering of the project.
Councilmember Tony Youngker defended the proposal, saying improvements are necessary to make downtown Buckeye more attractive for future development and investment, noting that he has spoken with developers interested in downtown.
“The consensus that we get back is, ‘What is the city doing to make this more attractive area? What are you doing to make it so people actually wanna be down here?” Youngker said.
The city is planning a major sewer system and flood control project that will tear up Monroe during roughly the same time Murray is suggesting installing the decorative string lights.
City staff clarified that the string light installation would be temporary and that many of the materials could later be reused after the sewer work is completed.
Youngker questioned the cost of the poles; Murray again confirmed the cost at $19,000 each.
Ultimately, the council chose not to approve full construction funding at this time. Instead, members voted to move forward only with the project’s design phase, approving up to $80,000 for planning and engineering work.
The completed design proposal is expected to return to council for further consideration after the summer.
One Response
We need to get rid of Heustis we need people that actually cares and lives in Buckeye. Tony Youngker is correct for what we need for downtown. Improvements do cost money and it will pay off and no it won’t cost $600,000 for the project there are lots of contractors that would do it for a whole lot less especially for the poles. I can get the exact same kind and it would not cost me $19000 for it