Wheeling to outsource holiday lighting

Starting this holiday season, Wheeling will pay Broadview-based Holiday Creations to buy, install and remove holiday lights on village trees and shrubs.

Under a measure passed by the village board this week, Wheeling will pay the company $125,000 a year during the contract's three-year duration. Holiday Creations installs seasonal lights for 850 other municipalities, including Rosemont and Park Ridge.

Wheeling public works employees spend 2,000 hours purchasing, installing, maintaining and removing 350,000 holiday lights every year, Village Manager Jon Sfondilis said.

"While the contract is an expense, what we are gaining is significant when it comes to allowing our crews to do the work that they are meant to do as opposed to spending their time in the trees," Sfondilis said.

Wheeling's deal with Holiday Creations also means the village will switch from incandescent lights to LED lights. The LED lights will substantially reduce electrical use, and will last longer, village staff said.