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Jan 01, 2024

Supervisors approve installing LED lighting in county buildings 

LE MARS — Let there be light — LED lights, that is. The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved spending $97,164 to install LED light fixtures in county buildings. In a 4-0 vote during their

LE MARS — Let there be light — LED lights, that is.

The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved spending $97,164 to install LED light fixtures in county buildings. In a 4-0 vote during their Tuesday, Aug. 15, meeting, the board agreed to a proposal from ROI Energy LLC of Eudora, Kan. MidAmerican Energy will help subsidize the project, kicking in about a third of the total cost of the project.

Joe Hurla, KOI’s vice president of operations, attended the Aug. 8 meeting, but called into this one to offer some details and field questions. The new lighting fixtures would last between 15-20 years, Hurla said on Aug. 8, with bulbs having an average of 50,000 hours before they burn out. The length of time the bulbs would last would depend on their usage, he said, with some facilities that don’t have lights on constantly seeing longer lives.

The county would match its investment in the LED fixtures in four years thanks to lower electric bills, Hurla said.

The county will use its staff to install some lights and fixtures at the courthouse, which will reduce the cost.

Hurla said the proposal has to be approved by MidAmerican, which might take up to three weeks. Then, the work can be completed in 90 days, he said.

“By Dec. 1 is when we would expect to have the project complete,” Hurla said.

In other agenda items:

• Plymouth County Engineer Tom Rohe asked for a permit for Lumen to bore under 325th Street in order to bring service to a landowner on the north side of the roadway. It was quickly approved on a 4-0 vote.

• Rohe said recent heavy rains have slowed work. No progress could be made on road shoulders because the ground was so sodden, he said.

• A pair of concrete culverts are being installed to replace wooden bridges. They are on Impala Avenue in sections 17-18 of Plymouth Township, and 240th Street in sections 9-16 of Henry Township.

• The supervisors noted the city of Le Mars is considering three voluntary annexation requests on the south end of town. Kass said one of the supervisors could attend meetings on that if they wish.

• Kass said the supervisors had received a letter from the Plymouth County Historical Museum thanking the board for its $20,000 in support.

The letter also invited people to attend a three-day trip to Pipestone, Minnesota, from Oct. 12-14 to tour area sites.

• Supervisor Craig Anderson was not present.

A mix of clouds and sun. High 87F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Clear skies. Low 56F. Winds light and variable.

Updated: August 28, 2023 @ 11:35 am