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MOUNT VERNON — It’s getting easier to look on the bright side in Mount Vernon thanks to a recently completed infrastructure project.

The city last month unveiled new “smart streetlight” technology in collaboration with Alliant Energy. The pilot program aims to enhance energy efficiency and bolster amenities in Mount Vernon’s historic uptown district.

“It’s amazing. You think a light pole is just a light pole, but there were so many different capabilities on each one,” said Mayor Tom Wieseler. “We didn’t put every service on every single light pole, but we did enough that we felt it was unique enough for our” uptown area.

Wieseler said the 24 new light poles were “strategically placed” along

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