Salina Proceeding With Light Project
KSAL Staff - Mon 06:13 PM 04/09/2012
Philips lighting would provide new, energy efficient LED lamp posts in the downtown area.
Salina City Commissioners are proceeding with exploring the possibility of replacing the lights in downtown Salina. The current lights are outdated, and in need of repair.
Commissioners Monday voted to enter into an Investment Grade Audit contract with Johnson Controls for $28,000. If the City elects to proceed with the project after the IGA is complete, the $28,000 cost of the audit will be absorbed by Johnson Controls.
Johnson Controls is trying to broker an arrangement in a three-way partnership between the City of Salina, themselves, and Phillips Lighting to lower the project costs to replace the Downtown lanterns and upgrade the City parking lot
lights.
Philips lighting would provide new, energy efficient LED lamp posts in the downtown area. The entire lighting assembly would be manufactured by Philips. The company is also including a 10 year warranty.
The LED lights have a life-span of 23 years, and are much more energy efficient than the current lights.
The entire project would cost about $1.2 million.
Officials believe that the project would eventually pay for itself, in energy savings. It is estimated the city would save $35,013 in electrical cost in the first year, and average $57,016 per year over 23 years at 4.0% inflation.
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Iamgonnagetu
Monday 9 April 2012 18:39 Report this comment
The way the city works lights do not last 20 plus years downtown they change them out on someone's whim. Once again the commissioners want to spend money when they should be looking at cutting back on things. Looks like many of them have forgot what they told the voters to get elected.
SD
Monday 9 April 2012 20:33 Report this comment
Disgusting waste of a huge amount of money. Do you really believe they will be satisfied with these in 23 years? Think what could have happened downtown if these money had been used as seed money for new business endeavors.
aschosh
Monday 9 April 2012 21:30 Report this comment
Iamgonnagetu - for once I agree with you! Although there is some of this money that is pre-slated for projects such as this and cannot be changed. I am still trying to figure out how all the "art" in Salina is for beautification and not just a waste of money because it was put in a location that nobody will see it anyways. Glad I am moving out of this town in less than 2 weeks!!!!
talley1
Tuesday 10 April 2012 07:51 Report this comment
As I've stated before when this subject came up,Why can't the fixtures be updated with the Led Bulbs? It would be quite a savings over replacing the whole light pole. Sounds like a gigantic waste of money !
gueraloca
Tuesday 10 April 2012 08:25 Report this comment
does anyone have any info on the baby that went to the hospital yesterday? i heard it was unresponsive and brain dead before police arrived.
CC0709
Tuesday 10 April 2012 09:22 Report this comment
First of all - you people need to get with the times. Do some research on LED lighting. Energy efficient and labor saving. The lamps last for 23 years - which means the City won't have to pay someone to change out lamps and electric bill will go down. Of course it isn't an overnight thing but you have to look long term. Technology is constantly changing. And also - this is would mean jobs to people in Salina. Hello - Philips Lighting - LOCAL BUSINESS. And not just work for Philips either - you'll need people to do the concrete work, set the lights, connect power etc. Which in turn means - work for people. You all do nothing but complain. There is is very rarely anyone optimistic around here. The glass is always half empty. Good Grief!
GETALIFE674
Tuesday 10 April 2012 10:06 Report this comment
You know who the big winner here will be? Johnson Controls they will walk away with a bunch of your money for something we do not need. I agree with talley1 update what we have with led bulbs if that is what the commissioners want. It seems like a waste of money to change everything out for an area of town that is dying. What we have is nice and does not look bad. City Commissioners keep spending our monies foolishly and next time you are spouting lies to get re-elected we the people will replace you like a worn out pair of shoes.
WhoCares
Tuesday 10 April 2012 10:57
(Deleted by Administrator)
ethyn_hafner
Tuesday 10 April 2012 11:54 Report this comment
So it will take 35 years to pay off the project? What happens when 20 years from now they come out with an even more efficient bulb and the city finds it necessary to upgrade again?
Iamgonnagetu
Tuesday 10 April 2012 13:46 Report this comment
Good point to bad the commissioners we elected cannot think like you do.
jimdingo
Tuesday 10 April 2012 17:50 Report this comment
Who shops downtown anyway??? The south end is so much more convenient to get around in. No meter maids, drunks, or sculptures to look at. I guess there will be the Tin Tree before long.
ethyn_hafner
Tuesday 10 April 2012 21:21 Report this comment
Maybe we can save the old lights and install them along the river after the river restoration. Let's face it, it doesn't matter if a project gets voted down, the commissioners will just go ahead and do what they want. I am sure they get kickbacks in one form or another from these contractors. I am curious what all this Investment Grade Audit includes. That sure is nice of the company to absorb the cost of the audit if we go ahead with the project. The city is getting such a great deal, how could they say no to basically a free audit. You just can't find many companies out there that are willing to "absorb" a cost. By absorb do they mean add an additional 100,000 into the project and that should cover the audit?
ethyn_hafner
Tuesday 10 April 2012 21:23 Report this comment
Maybe we could install a miniature wind generators and solar cells on each light and have no electrical costs! It would only cost a billion dollars up front, but would pay for itself in 150 years! What a sweet deal!!!
Conservative
Wednesday 11 April 2012 11:55 Report this comment
They better get this done fast before the City Commission passes the LGBTXYZ ordinance amendment or they'll have to change THEIR corporate policies to be in compliance. Also, we could sell the old lights to American Pickers... they'd haul them off for pennies on the dollar (as long as Mike and Frank have the correct policy in place as well).