Airport saves tax dollars with ramp light changes

When Bear Valley Electric started its bulb replacement program for area businesses, the Big Bear Airport District researched which lights at the airport could benefit from the program. Utility costs are the third-highest expenditure at the airport. One of the places identified were the ramp lights, according to Pete Gwaltney, airport general manager. "Were there ways we could do something with the ramp lights?" Gwaltney asked. He instructed staff to find the answer.

Ramp lights illuminate the perimeter of the airport where airplanes are parked. They sit high on poles to provide safety and security to the area. The task was to replace the existing bulbs with money-saving LED bulbs. But it wasn't a simple matter of changing them out. New fixtures were needed.

A total of 26 lights were given new fixtures and new LED bulbs at a cost of $26,000. The project was completed Nov. 1. Gwaltney said Bear Valley Electric estimates the LED bulbs will cut the cost of running those lights in half. "We will see a return in our investment in 18 months," Gwaltney said.

A local company, Ludecke Electric, was contracted to do the work. "We were very pleased with the work," Gwaltney said. The contractor gave the airport a 10 percent discount from the original estimate because the fixtures were easy to replace, Gwaltney said.

More lights will be changed to use LED bulbs in other areas of the airport. Gwaltney said under the general maintenance program, the security lights on the hangars will be replaced. "That part may be spring before we finish," Gwaltney said.

Actual savings will be calculated through the next several months. "We will be tracking our savings," Gwaltney said.

During the Nov. 9 airport district board meeting, board member Gary Steube said the LED ramp light replacement was the only thing of note reported on in the meeting. "It's a tremendous savings," Steube said about the project. "

The LED ramp light update was given during the general manager's report. The board also discussed fellow board member Gloria Greene's signs promoting a community room at the airport but decided no action was necessary as Greene said she was removing the signs. The board also spent more than an hour approving minutes from three past meetings.

Board member Chuck Knight requested that Greene's behavior during the October meeting be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. He wants the board to censure Greene for what he believes is inappropriate behavior. Greene argued with board president Julie Smith after the October meeting.

Greene apologized, explaining she got caught up in the moment.

Knight's request to censure Greene was rejected by a majority of the board. Steube, Greene and board member Steven Baker opposed the request. "I'd really like to get it all behind us," Steube said. "I'd like to see us move on."

Greene's request to hire a neutral investigator to research Baker's comments regarding Gwaltney's performance was also rejected when it did not receive consensus. Smith, Steube and Knight opposed the item.