Backus: City to gradually go to LED lights
The Backus City Council, left-to right: Ann Birge, Rae Borst, mayor Kurt Sawyer, Tyler Smith and Karl Flier. Travis Grimler / Echo JournalThe Backus City Council decided to gradually switch the city to LED streetlights to ensure the best affordability.
This Jan. 8 decision followed inquiries by city maintenance into the cost of replacing all of the sodium vapor street lights with LED bulbs. Minnesota Power, which has partial ownership of the lights, has been replacing burned out sodium vapor lamps with the same types of lamps as they burn out. The city decided to ask about LED when considering how much longer LED lamps should last versus sodium vapor. The city also hoped to save on the cost to run the lamps.
Minnesota Power provided a statement that says most cities are replacing sodium vapor lamps with LED as they burn out, at no charge. If the city wants them all replaced at once, however, the cost is $50-$100 per lamp.
The city decided to just replace burned out lamps with LED.
In other business Monday, the council:
• Chose to adopt the same formula for determining aviation fuel as the city of Longville.
• Approved a fire department grant application with a 5 percent match for replacement of personal protective equipment and other safety gear.
• Approved contracting with GovOffice for the city web page. Clerk Ann Swanson said GovOffice provides hosting with intuitive tools allowing simple additions and changes to the website. The cost is $995 a year for a three year contract.
• Entered into record a letter from a Backus resident asking the city to consider higher taxes when looking ahead to the city street project. The resident said some Backus residents may not be able to afford a $1,200 assessment split over 10 years to pay for the project and suggested a tax increase may be more affordable, being split among more city residents. The resident also said taxpayers could get property tax refunds based on the increase but could not do so for an assessment. The council will have more public comment opportunities after the full cost of the project is known. This letter will be considered at that time.