One of the newest members of the Brookhaven Board of Aldermen hopes to shine some light on a problem she’s noticed near Brookhaven Country Club.

It’s too dark.

Ward 6 Alderwoman Shelley Harrigill is asking the city to look into bringing additional lighting to Hwy. 51 north toward the country club.

She wants the city to add lights from Industrial Park Road to the intersection of New Sight Drive and North Jackson Street.

“There are more businesses now than there used to be. We’ve seen new businesses pop up and traffic is picking up on this part of Hwy. 51,” Harrigill said.

Many business owners and residents living on that section of Hwy. 51 have asked about the lights, she said.

“Business owners are telling me that they are paying taxes in the city and want the benefits of having lights. There are also residences out there where people’s driveways pull right onto the highway and at night it’s dark and dangerous,” Harrigill said.

Her biggest fear is if an accident occurred because of the lack of lighting.

“It’s dangerous,” she said. “I’ve really started paying attention to it at night. If you’re heading toward a business out here at night, it’s very difficult to see where to turn into.”

Public Works Director Keith Lewis said he and his staff will look into the problem.

“Obviously we have a pretty big lighting project going on right with adding LED lights throughout the city. It’s a busy time right now replacing all of the current lights we do have,” Lewis said. “We’re currently talking with Entergy now about the possibility of adding lights where Harrigill is asking about.”

Lewis said Entergy engineers will check into the possibility of adding the lights and if it is, they will go to MDOT for permits.

That could take time.

“A time table to get the permits from MDOT could be lengthy one,” Lewis said.

Harrigill said she is glad to see progress being made toward a solution.

“I don’t know if anything can be done but I’m glad the initial conversations have started. I hope we can eventually get this done,” she said.