Contractor completes first round of holiday light repairs

WASHINGTON — Contractors from Renoux Builders inspected and replaced countless holiday lights strung up around Washington’s square on Friday and Saturday, part of a yearly routine for the winter decorations coordinated by the city, local chamber of commerce, and downtown businesses.

Washington Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michelle Redlinger said the goal was to ensure the bulbs were functioning normally ahead of Main Street Washington’s lighting ceremony, this year scheduled for Nov. 30.

The chamber pays for the maintenance effort. Redlinger said she simply walked up to Renoux contractors in town for another project and asked if they’d be interested.

“I try to keep my eyes open for any work that’s happening in the community that might have a lift for that project, and ask them if they want to partner with us,” she said. “This year was no different … when they had time when the businesses weren’t open, we got that scheduled.”

The holiday lights line Washington’s square, and expand about a block outward in every direction. The chamber doesn’t plan to expand the decorations to new buildings this year, although Redlinger said she was looking into color-changing ones in the near future.

The replacements would also help fill gaps formed in the light strands over the years not due to broken bulbs, but because of issues in the far less replaceable light sockets.

“We are looking at some options that might better withstand our weather.”

The north side of Washington’s square still needs holiday light maintenance ahead of this winter. Redlinger said contractors couldn’t access electrical hookups for the area because of damage to a nearby utility pole last spring.

Maintenance on that side of the square is still expected well ahead of the holidays.

“Once our electricians and utility companies get that back up and running, we’ll do another repair period,” she said. “I know they’re in the process.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com