Funding for street lights awarded

The state’s Transportation Improvement Board awarded 100% funding to convert existing street lights in Coulee Dam to lower energy technology. The council Wednesday night quickly OK’d approval of the grant and for Mayor Quincy Snow to execute the agreement.

The maximum amount of the grant is $252,000, and the grant has been pending for several weeks.

The grant announcement comes after the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) did a feasibility study of the town. Coulee Dam is one of six cities or towns in the state to receive the energy saving grant.

Public works director Barry Peacock said the town has approximately 300 street lights

The new (LED) efficiency lights are targeted to last 20 years. Present street lights last about five years, Peacock stated.

The light project will go out for bid early summer and the work is set for completion by the end of summer, Peacock added.

“There will be considerable savings to the town in both the amount of energy they use and maintenance,” Peacock added.