KELLER -- Debra Feaster constantly feels like she is in the spotlight rather than in her backyard on Navajo Drive.
Her backyard faces the United States Post Office on East Vine Street, which recently added 14 pole lights and 12 mounted lights outside the facility, Feaster said."There are bright lights on the side of the building that point directly into our home," she said. "It is ridiculous."Feaster said she and her husband, Lonnie, used to enjoy opening the windows to let in fresh air from their well-manicured backyard with a swimming pool."We don't even go outside at night anymore," she said. "It is like being in a spotlight all night long."The problems aren't just outside either."We've got black out curtains all along the back of our house," she said. "We have to keep it all blocked because it lights up my whole house."The curtains are more like a band aide than a cure, she said."If I don't get the cracks just right, it lights up our bedroom and all along the living room."Initial calls were made to the city, Feaster said.But, Assistant City Manager Chris Fuller said the city doesn't have jurisdiction over the postal service property.After being contacted by The Keller Citizen, the postal service released this statement: "Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Our Facilities Service Office will look into the matter and work to resolve this issue. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our neighbors."Feaster said she realizes that the facility needs the lights for security, but questioned whether it was too much.As a courtesy to the Feasters, the city took light readings on different occasions at their home, Fuller said.The first reading was within city compliance, which is 0.2 foot-candles onto any adjacent residential property, but the last reading was above city compliance, Fuller said.After city employees took three separate readings in the Feaster's backyard on the second occasion -- on the north corner they got a 0.4 reading, at mid-point it was 0.7 and on the south corner it was 1.0 foot-candles."At the end of the day, the city unfortunately has no ability to implement or require the postal service to be in compliance with city regulations," Fuller said.Feaster said the lighting is like a football field."Maybe they could put dimmer bulbs or put shields on the lights so it is not reflecting into resident's homes and only on the parking lot."Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
