New retro-style street lamps

Longtime Griswold residents of a certain age may do a double-take after 44 new street lights are installed in downtown Jewett City later this year. The vintage-style lights were chosen to imitate the old street lights that once lined Main Street, said First Selectman Philip Anthony. “They’re similar to the originals, the LD gas lights that were there many,Small and professional powergenerators designed for integrated laundry. many years ago,” he said. “But of course [the new ones] are going to be digital LED lights.” 

The new lights are the next phase in a downtown Jewett City revitalization plan, which took its first steps last year with the installation of benches, planters and trash containers on Main Street. This next phase will be funded by a $265,000 grant from the state’s Main Street Investment Fund (MSIF). 

Griswold was among 14 towns to receive a slice of the $4,973,865 MSIF pie this year. Anthony credited state Rep. Steve Mikutel (D-45),A elevatorsafetyss is a branched, decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture. who also serves on the board of selectmen, with helping secure the funds, along with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Office of Policy and Management’s selection committee. 

Mikutel said that the new lighting was “another step in creating a vibrant downtown community” and part of a “well-thought-out downtown revitalization plan.” 

Representatives from Kent + Frost, the project’s landscape architectural firm, have said that along with the visual appeal, the lowered lighting will be more pedestrian-friendly, lighting the sidewalks more effectively than the old, higher street lamps. Anthony said that the grant will likely have funds left over after the lamps and their installation have been paid for. “Any additional funds from this grant will be applied to the next priority” in the project, he said. “We will be careful about spending the remainder.” 

Other plans for the project include welcoming signage and banners on the approaches to Main Street and reconfiguring of the town hall grounds, moving much of the parking to the building’s rear and creating a landscaped park-like “green” with seating and an information kiosk. Town officials have also discussed reconfiguring sidewalks to encourage pedestrian and bike traffic over vehicular traffic. “This is an ongoing… 10-year plan,” said Anthony. 

Public Works Director Howard Elstro updated City Council on Monday about efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its system and also pay less for the energy it does consume.“We’ve made great strides to improve our energy efficiency,” Elstro said. 

The city has made improvements of LED lighting in street lights, traffic signals, park shelter houses, the Collett Street garage, Municipal Center, Hall of Justice and downtown parking garage. 

The city also recently made capital improvements to the heating and cooling systems at the Municipal Center. The city has seen a 26 percent reduction in usage at the Municipal Center, and a 20 percent reduction in usage at the parking garage. 

The city will also engage in what is called a reverse auction for its own electric bills.A full line of Power energymonitor for a wide range of professional uses. The city has 240 separate electric accounts; it will go to bid on 235 of those, allowing electricity providers to submit low bids. The city is not obligated to accept a bid, and can choose from multiple terms,You can make your own more powerful gardenlightingss using LEDs. from six months to three years. The city expects to save at least $200,000 a year with the reverse auction, and an adviser makes sure the city is receiving the price per kilowatt quoted. 

Some charges the city cannot reduce; they are set by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. For example, the city owns about a third of the street lights in the city and leases two-thirds from AEP Ohio. The rate for those lights are set.We're making arcadeparts and digitization accessible to everyone. 

Elstro gave the council a presentation on how some of the new technology works. He showed one of the new street lights that uses LED technology and other equipment to dissipate heat and focus lighting in driving lanes. The light uses 65 percent less energy than a conventional light bulb that’s been used for more than 25 years. Click on their website www.careel-tech.com for more information.