Barrett Lawlis

Reporter

NEWARK - In the past, any special lighting on the Licking County Courthouse took lots of time, money and work to get installed and taken down.

Now, with an initiative by The Licking County Commissioners and the Courthouse Lighting Committee could make those lighting changes with a few strokes of a keyboard.

The two groups have partnered in an effort to improve the lighting on the tower of the courthouse, in both efficiency and uses for the community.

"This project lined up perfectly with the courthouse renovations already happening," Tim Bubb, county commissioner and president of the lighting committee, said. "The old floodlights that were there were from the 1970s, so they were old and inefficient."

The plan is to install LED lights in the tower, which would save the courthouse from damage during installation of the annual Christmas lights.

"That was one of the reasons there was damage on the roof of the courthouse. It wasn't designed to have people walking around up there, but that was happening year after year," Duane Flowers, county commissioner, said. "If we can get those LEDs up there, it will save the courthouse from a lot of damage."

"Those lights wouldn't need to be replaced for 20 or 30 years. And with technology the way it is, who knows what we could have in 10 years."

The LEDs will be controlled by a computer system that will allow them to be programmed different colors, depending on what season it is.

"So not only can we use these during the Christmas season, we could use them for patriotic events, any special times or even turn them pink for Breast Cancer awareness," Flowers said.

No prices have been set for the project, but Bubb and Flowers said the cost for the equipment and the LEDs should be split evenly between the county and the lighting committee.

"The county was already committed to getting new lighting, and the committee is dedicated to put up funds to have lights that can be controlled," Bubb said. "It's a win-win for everyone."

Because of the $10 million renovations on the courthouse, the annual holiday lighting won't be taking place quite the same this year.

Although decorations can't be hung on the actual courthouse because of the renovations, the lawn decorations will still go up in the courthouse yard. The lighting festivities will be moved to the Canal Market District in downtown Newark, where there will be a stage for live music, Santa's arrival and ended with a holiday fireworks show.

"The market district is going to hold a Christmas Market from 4 until 8 p.m., with vendors selling all kinds of holiday items," Bubb said. "And there will be a space for children to meet Santa, but we're still looking to get that set up. Traditionally, it's been with TrueCore Federal (Credit Union), but they've agreed to pick a business closer to the market so folks don't have to walk so far."

blawlis@gannett.com

740-328-8822

Twitter: @BarrettLawlis

To donate:

Donations to the Courthouse Holiday Lighting Campaign can be made online at courthouselighting.com or donations can be sent to Licking County Courthouse Lighting Committee, Post Office Box 292, Newark, Ohio 43058-0292.