Olney City Council approves program to replace 80 traffic lights with LED

Olney City Council approved entering into an LED street light rebate program that would replace 80 traffic lights in the city with more efficient LED lights.

According to information from City Manager and Attorney Larry Taylor, Sarah Mann, with Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission, told him that the rebate for LED lights may be reduced in June.

The current rebate is approximately $159 per light.

Taylor noted in his information that Street Department Supervisor Jay Scott estimates that the cost of replacing the lights on Whittle Avenue and Main Street will be approximately $500 per lights, for a total of approximately $40,000.

Taylor said the city will also need to spend approximately $1,000 to install three disconnects so that city crews can work on the lights without power flowing to them.

He noted that if the wiring along Main Street and Whittle Avenue is in good condition it will not have to be replaced because there is less demand on wiring with LED lights. There may be some wiring that needs replaced, however, he noted.

Taylor said the city should save around $6,000 in maintenance costs with the LED lights, so there would be a roughly four-and-a-half-year payback on the city’s initial investment.

Councilman Brad Brown noted the benefit of the program, but added that the cost of LED lights continues to go down.

Councilman Bob Ferguson said the costs may go down, but the longer the city waits, its maintenance costs increase in the meantime.

Councilman Gary Foster said he would first like to see what the budget looks like at the end of this fiscal year.

Richland County Development Corporation Executive Director Brandi Stennett noted during the discussion, however, that the city should likely get started as soon as possible in order to meet the June deadline.

The council voted to proceed with the program, with city crews doing the installation work.