Batavia considers artificial decor for holidays

Christmas greenery appeared in Batavia again last week, even though Valentine's Day was approaching.

A streetlight pole on the southwest corner of Houston Street and Island Avenue bore a wreath and roping, as part of a test to see if Batavia should use artificial greens next Christmas.

It was put up for aldermen to judge whether they liked the look, said Gary Holm, public works director.

The city is investigating whether by hiring a company to put up reusable artificial greenery it could decorate more of the downtown than it did this past Christmas, for about the same amount of money, Holm said.

Last Christmas, in a budget-cutting move, the city scaled back its decor dramatically. In previous years, the city had put red bows and lighted trees, wreaths or snowflakes on about 75 poles in the downtown, but last year decorated only 26, in strategic spots such as the entrances and the Wilson Street bridge. It budgeted $1,542 for supplies, compared to the $5,699 it spent the previous Christmas.

"We're trying to find a middle ground," Holm said.

The city council's city services committee will discuss the matter at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. If aldermen are OK with the look of the artificial greens, Holm will seek bids from companies that do the work.

"By no means is this a done deal," he said.

Meanwhile, the city wants to know what residents thought of the holiday decorations. E-mail comments to holidaydecorations@cityofbatavia.net.

Britta McKenna, director of Batavia MainStreet and a member of an ad hoc committee that oversaw decorations last year, said there are several sides to the decision. "There are environmental consequences," she said, noting it may be less wasteful to decorate with something artificial that can be used several times. "Then there is also price, and we don't have a price."

And then there is the look. "Will people really notice the difference (especially from a distance)?" McKenna wondered. And then there are people who miss the "Christmas Tree Lane" decor the city did for years, through 2007, where real trees adorned every light pole downtown.

"Some people feel very strongly about these things," McKenna said. "You always have factions."