Waynesburg streets getting brighter with new LED lights
WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough is a little bit brighter after a contractor for West Penn Power began replacing streetlights last week with energy efficient LEDs.
West Penn Power is replacing older, high-pressure sodium and mercury vapor lights, which emit a yellow- or orange-tinted light, with the LEDs.
The LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, use much less power, last longer and emit a whiter, brighter light.
“I have had a couple people tell me how nice the new lights are and how they appear brighter,” borough manager Mike Simms said.
The changeover is being completed at no cost to the borough, Simms said. Installing LEDs is viewed as a “win-win” for both the borough and West Penn, he said. The borough will save money in its electric bill and West Penn will see a reduction in maintenance costs, he said.
The borough pays slightly more than $4,000 a month to power its 307 streetlights.
The switch to LEDs was initially projected to save the borough about $20,000 a year, Simms said. However, savings could be slightly reduced if the state Public Utility Commission approves a rate increase requested by the company, he told council Monday.
In other business at the meeting, Simms reported the borough will soon begin the process of adopting revisions to the borough’s comprehensive plan.
The borough held a public hearing on the draft recommendations for the plan in June.
The steering committee that has been working on the revisions has now begun to focus on updating the borough’s zoning ordinance, Simms said.
Assistant borough manager Bryan Cumberledge reported the borough will be installing five new “Welcome to Waynesburg” signs at the main roads into the borough.
He said he hoped they could also serve to help motorist drive more carefully by including wording asking motorist to drive safely and possibly noting traffic laws in the borough are strictly enforced.
Cumberledge said he is now talking with a person who may want to make a donation to help pay for the signs.
Simms also reported the borough is talking with Franklin Township about again jointly bidding for residential garbage collection. The contract with Advanced Disposal expires at the end of the year.