While they’ll still serve the same valuable function of illuminating the evening cityscape, a number of West Division Streets light poles will soon look a whole lot better while doing so.

Dowagiac City Council approved the replacement of 42 decorative streetlights lining the city’s most heavily traversed street during their meeting Monday evening. The city will replace the fixtures stretching from Front Street to North Lowe Street, excluding those found in Burke Park.

The new light poles will replace the existing version, which are beginning to deteriorate, said City Manager Kevin Anderson.

“Due to the salt that’s there, they’re starting to show some wear and tear at the base of them,” Anderson said. “So we’re looking at replacing each of those 42 decorate lights over the next three budget cycles, over the next 18 months.”

These replacements will be made in three parts, 14 lights at a time, costing $39,620. The first batch of lights will be ordered in the near future, with the second batch scheduled for Oct. 1 and the remaining ones delivered next year, Anderson said.

“This time we’ll be using a composite material that should resistant to the salt, and we should get some exceptional longevity out of them,” he said.

The new poles will be single globe LED lights, and will use the same style as those installed across from city hall at the James E. Snow Professional Building.

The city will be purchasing the materials for the poles from Robert C. Shaver Co., based out of Grand Rapids. City crews will be responsible for installing the fixtures once they come in, Anderson said.

It is planned for the project to be wrapped up over a three-year period.

“That will be a nice upgrade for that entryway into the city,” said Mayor Don Lyons. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Other business conducted by the council Monday included:

• The appointment of Jane Phillipson Wilson to the vacant city clerk position.

• Reappointment of Robert Frontczak and Barb Bobik to the Dowagiac Planning Commission for three-year terms expiring on November 2017.

• Approval of a resolution of to allow the city manager to submit a right-of-way application for water lines extending across Pokagon property located at the Pokagonek Edawat housing community off Daily Road.

• Payment of outstanding bills and payroll, in the amount of $285,621.55.