Carefree Truth

Issue #399, June 9, 2015

 

 

 

Gas lamps retrofit: Gary Neiss informed the Council that the "gas lamps" within the Town center had an antiquated operating system, and an LED retrofit would update them.  At the hardware store, everything is now LED.  Scottsdale and Phoenix have converted their street lights and signal lights to LED.  The LED revolution has occurred because it is significantly more energy efficient, lower maintenance, and provides a better quality of light.

 

 

 

A leader in the industry, Let There Be Light (LTBL) is based in Carefree.  LTBL has performed many municipal conversions.  They have worked with Carefree in the past with the lights in the Carefree Desert Gardens.  As a community partner, their prices have been excellent, far better than outside agencies.

 

 

 

The gas lamps have been evaluated.  Converting them will require changing the ballasts to drivers in the heads of the lamps.  LTBL would do the conversion.  This will cost a total of $19,000, which is 30% under the market price.  There is funding for this in the Public Works Department budget. 

 

 

 

Mayor Les Peterson asked what the payback time would be.  Councilman Glenn Miller replied that the return on the investment would be 159.42%, but he wasn't sure in terms of years.  Mr. Miller is constantly replacing burned out bulbs because they don't last long.  He anticipated that LEDs will last 10 years.  Vice Mayor John Crane said that LEDs not only last much longer, but would also improve the poor illumination provided by the lamps.  He stated his concern over the liability issues associated with the illumination as is.  He pointed out the LTBL does an excellent job servicing the Gardens, and that he has seen their work in HOAs and around town, calling them "great guys to work with".  Mr. Miller said LTBL gave the large discount to help the town move in a more sustainable direction.  They love Carefree and want to be part of it. 

 

 

 

Councilman Mike Farrar asked if there were any Leeds or carbon credits associated with this conversion.  Mr. Neiss responded that their were none of which he was aware.  Mr. Farrar said that it does lower the energy cost, and asked if the 2 active gas lamps near the sun dial will remain gas.  Mr. Neiss confirmed they would.  Mr. Farrar asked if the new system could be dimmed and if the lights would be colored.  Mr. Neiss said they could be dimmed, and the lights will not be colored.  The Council voted 7-0 to approve the retrofit by LTBL.

 

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/130047242/4340280338

 

 

 

Repairs to the pools by the sundial in the Garden: Mr. Neiss explained that the reflection pool beneath the sundial was decommissioned and filled in several years ago because the pipes below it, that were original from the time the sundial was placed, had corroded.  In order to replace the pipes, the concrete pond must be removed.  The concrete around the sun dial will not be disturbed. 

 

 

 

Technology has changed, making it much more efficient to run the pool, so the equipment will also be updated.  3 new bubblers would be installed, along with colored LED lights to compliment the curtain waterfall that many people enjoy at night.  The pond will be sealed with a new technology sealant that goes under the Pebbletech finish.  The project would cost $40,000.  Because it costs approximately $2500 to stage the materials, the Town asked for a quote to seal and replace the Pebbletech on the other existing ponds around the sun dial, some of which are visibly leaking, and was quoted $14,500.  A second company quoted $79,000 dollars for the same work.  The lower price came from Carefree based company, Eco Blue.  When their references were checked, all came back glowing.  Repairs could begin within the next 2 weeks, and could be completed by the beginning of July.  There is money to fund this project in the Public Works Department Fiscal Year budget 2014/15. 

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar asked if the size of the pond was changing.  Mr. Neiss said it was not.  Mr. Farrar was under the impression that the sun dial and the ground around it had been donated by Carefree Kiwanis, and asked if they approved of this project.  Mr. Neiss explained that Kiwanis had donated funds to renovate and maintain the sun dial, but that the sun dial predated Kiwanis.  The Council voted 7-0 to approve the project.

 

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/130028662/d501e00a5a

 

 

 

Median maintenance and improvement: The Town had the choice between hiring a 5th Public Works Department employee to tend the medians or contracting with an outside agent.  Desert Foothills Landscape (DFL) has been an important community partner.  Owners Juanita and Mark Wdowiak donated the Carefree Desert Gardens, which they continue to invest in, and maintain for $2000 a month, well under the market price.  They would extend that contract to maintain the 10 linear miles of medians throughout the town for $4955 a month, a 30% discount, which is $25,000 less than it would cost the Town to do it internally.  Awarding this contract to DFL would improve the focus on the medians for less cost.  The contract would begin on July 1st, and DFL would communicate directly with the project coordinator managing the MAG bike lane improvements.  

 

 

 

Jim Van Allen expressed concern about money being spent on the contract with DFL, rather than being held aside and dedicated to additional median plants.  Mr. Miller once again explained that plants will be relocated from reduced medians during the bike lane project.  When that is finished, DFL will analyze the medians and decisions will be made. 

 

 

 

Vice Mayor Crane said funds for plants could come from Contingency, and that it is advantageous to wait until the cooler weather in January to do the additional planting.  He felt that medians are the first gateway to the town, and are more important than any gateway the Town could build.  They need work and vegetation, starting with Tom Darlington Drive.  Mayor Peterson added that there is significant money in the Fiscal Year 2015/16 budget earmarked for economic development.  Having attractive medians certainly meets that criteria and could be considered a viable project for those funds.  He too considered it a priority.  The Council voted 7-0 to approve the contract with DFL.

 

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/130052683/5eedb35be9

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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