GIRARDVILLE — The borough will have new and efficient street lighting in the near future due to action by the borough council at Thursday’s meeting.
The PPL Electric Utilities Inc. program, which is being offered to local municipalities, will replace the current incandescent bulbs and replace them with energy-efficient LED (light emitting diodes) lights. There is no cost to the borough to replace bulbs that are more than 10 years old.
During the March meeting, council Vice President Joseph Kessler said the borough has 175 street lights and all lights are at least a decade old. The borough would save at least $86 per month. According to the March 31 treasurer’s report, the cost for street lights in March was $3,156.41.
At Thursday’s meeting, council President Charles Marquardt read Resolution 2016-8 to enter into an agreement with PPL “for the furnishing of all electric street lighting delivery service required to light the streets of the borough.”
Before the vote, Councilman Robert Krick asked if the borough will not have a cost.
“We’re sure that we’re not going to get hit with any cost with the bulb change?” Krick asked. “I see that other municipalities are being charged for bulbs that were replaced in the last 10 years. I’m just asking the question. Does it say anything about it in the agreement?”
“Yes, it is in the agreement,” Councilman Rick Miller said.
“They (PPL) said that all of our lights were eligible,” Marquardt said.
The application with the resolution will be forwarded to PPL for its review and approval, after which the work will be scheduled.
Since the beginning of the year, the Ringtown Borough Council applied for the lighting program and has been accepted by PPL, which will replace 97 street lights. One bulb in the system is less than 10 years old, so it will cost the borough $172. All others will be at no cost. The total electricity cost savings to Ringtown will be $36.59 per month.
The Mahanoy Township supervisors approved participation by resolution at its March meeting. The initial cost to the township will be $847 to replace light bulbs that are less than 10 years old. The township has a total of 161 street lights to replaced throughout the township, saving the township about $53 per month in electrical costs.
The Gordon Borough Council had a discussion at its March meeting to possibly participate in the program, but no action was taken.
In other business, the borough council authorized seeking proposals from companies to provide snow removal in the borough as needed. In March, the borough received a letter from Keystone Anthracite Co. Inc., Girardville, that it would no longer be available to provide snow removal, with Marquardt thanking the company for its help throughout the years.