"Three of the lights are off in front of the Ohio Edison Service Building. How much attention are they paying," Councilman Greg Greathouse asked.

Councilman Greathouse is illuminating a problem taking place in Warren.

For years the city has been paying Ohio Edison for lights that are out.

At a cost of $9 per light, with 5,000 lights in the city, and 331 not working, the cost for taxpayers keeps adding up.

"That's about six percent of the lights in our city that are out, and we've got about $35,000 lights that we are paying for that aren't on," Councilman Greathouse said.

Ohio Edison defended its record saying it replaces bulbs or makes repairs on flickering lights within a few days, once the company is notified.

A link to send information about lights out will be on Warren's website this week.

But Warren Council President John Brown says he has used that system to try and help a constituent, but four months later the light is still out.

"I politely tell them who I am and what the problem is, and where the light is. And even went out and took the pole number down and took that picture. I never got a response back," Council President Brown emphasized.

 The city says it was in the dark when Ohio Edison told them it's the residents or city's responsibility to report street lights are out.

Councilman Greathouse believes it's the company's responsibility to make sure lights the city pays for are operating. On Wednesday he will take his case on behalf of Warren taxpayers to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

"I'm going to PUCO tomorrow and file a formal complaint that Ohio Edison is doing a poor to miserable job maintaining their system. And I want a refund. We've been paying those bills for years for lights that aren't on. I want a refund," Councilman Greathouse emphasized.

"I've got 40 people that will line up at a hearing and testify that light has been out for over a year. I want a refund. The citizens of Warren should not have to pay for lights that aren't on. In one year that's $35,000. In two years that's $70,000 we could use to hire a police officer," Councilman Greathouse added.