Street light overhaul continues

Macon-Bibb County reached a $1.5 million agreement Tuesday for the purchase and installation of LED street lighting.

The commission approved the resolution allowing the county to contract with Philips Lighting to replace high-pressure sodium lights with 1,590 LED bulbs. Once installed, it would complete a street light overhaul with more than 8,000 new fixtures across the county.

There was discussion last week on changing the type of proposed lights after some people voiced concerns about the glare they say could be caused by 4,000 kelvins bulbs. But some county officials say those bulbs have received few complaints in Macon and that they prefer uniformity across the county.

“I had this resolution prepared so we could get off the dime and move forward,” Mayor Robert Reichert said.

Since Georgia Power installed 6,500 bulbs earlier this year there have been six complaints from residents. Each of those were resolved by changing the angle of the light, Macon-Bibb spokesman Chris Floore said.

It should take about six to nine months to put in the new fixtures once the bulbs come in. The $1.5 million is being paid for through blight bond funds.

Charging station

Electric vehicle drivers will soon have a new location in Macon to recharge batteries.

The commission voted Tuesday to allow Georgia Power to install a charging station near the intersection of Poplar and First streets. A special card would provide people access to more than 550 charging stations, the resolution said.

Fire stations

County Commissioner Bert Bivins and former Bibb County Commission Lonzy Edwards officially will have fire stations named in their honors.

The commission approved resolutions naming a new Napier Avenue station after Bivins and a Jeffersonville Road station after Edwards.

Bivins has been a commissioner since 1995 and was one of the first black students to integrate Bibb County schools.

Edwards was a commissioner from 2007-2013 and passed away shortly after suspending his campaign bid for mayor due to health reasons.

This story was originally published October 18, 2016 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Street light overhaul continues."