Help light up Cape: Residents urged to report broken streetlights

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — Cape Girardeau residents are being encouraged to help identify and report streetlights that are not working as part of an effort to improve visibility and safety throughout the city.

Local business owner and former police officer Alan Bisher approached the Cape Girardeau Police Department with the idea after spending years checking streetlights while patrolling the city’s neighborhoods.

Bisher told FOX23 that identifying broken streetlights was a regular part of his duties as an officer, and the importance of keeping streets well-lit has stayed with him long after leaving law enforcement.

Now, he hopes residents will take a few moments to report outages when they notice them.

In a video shared by the Cape Girardeau Police Department, Bisher joined Officer Bobby Newton to explain how residents can help identify streetlight outages and report them to the city.

Each streetlight pole has an identification number beginning with the letters “CG,” followed by four digits. Residents are encouraged to write down the number or take a photo when they notice a streetlight that is not working.

“If you care about Cape like I do then then go ahead and start recording those numbers on those poles when you see a light out,” Bisher said in the video.

Residents can report outages through the city’s website at cityofcapegirardeau.org.

Under the “I Want To” section, residents can select the reporting option to notify city officials about an issue.

When submitting a report, residents are encouraged to include as much information as possible, including the pole identification number, location, date, name, email address, phone number and any photos of the issue.

The reporting system can also be used to notify officials about other concerns, including potholes, damaged signs and additional street-related problems.

In the video, Bisher emphasized that functioning streetlights can help improve safety for pedestrians and motorists, particularly at night. Better lighting can also make it easier for drivers to spot potential hazards and improve visibility throughout neighborhoods.

Bisher hopes that by encouraging residents to take a more active role in reporting outages, the community can help address lighting concerns and make Cape Girardeau’s streets safer.