The poetry group could decide date and time for meetings, how you want to conduct your meeting, invite local poets as guests, and even write a bit of your own poetry.

If that time is not good for you but you want more information let us know via FB or email sbabbit@tulsalibrary.org. -- (9/21/2011)

You probably have noticed the new traffic lights installed at the 10th and Main intersection as well as two traffic signals now located at the 11th intersection. Both sets of lights are now illuminated with LED. There was a big safety issue with the older lights not being bright enough to see if the sun happened to be behind you as you approached the intersections. People -and myself included – have chosen to turn right if we were westbound in the morning hours instead of guessing if the light was red or green.

The city did however have to comply with state rules of illumination if we chose to upgrade the traffic signals. There is a minimum “lighted surface” requirement that dictated we had to make a choice of either larger signal lights with larger lenses or two smaller signal lights at each intersection. The city’s primary desire was to preserve the old traffic signals as best we could because of the historical attachment with the community. City staff also found that the larger signal lights would hang lower in the intersections and thus require the installation of taller poles – a significant cost investment. The City was able to work with Signal Tech to retrofit the historic signal housings with upgraded LED illumination. Because we are required to have two signal units at each intersection to comply with the lighted surface area requirement it was decided to install both of the historic signals at the intersection of 11th Street. The units located at the 10th Street location are new inside and out.

As for the difference in color (green vs. yellow housings)? Green was not offered as an option with the new units. Whereas the new unit housings are composite material and the historic units are metal, we will pursue having the green housings painted yellow for continuity. Paint adheres better to metal. Public feedback to the change has been positive. I drove westbound at about 7:30 this morning, the sun was behind me and there was no guessing what color was shining at the intersection- a very big difference. I’m very satisfied with the upgrade to public safety and the fact that we still have our historic signal lights up and doing their job better than ever!

Thank you!

Phil Stowell

Public Works Director

City of Collinsville Oklahoma

918-371-1010 Extension 2028