Supervisors approve $56,918 courthouse LED lighting project; grant funds may cover additional buildings

The Gage County Board of Supervisors approved a $56,918 bid from Plymouth Electric to replace fluorescent fixtures in the courthouse with LED fixtures, citing long-term maintenance savings and improved reliability.

County staff explained the bid came in low enough that the county has remaining grant funds, and those funds could extend lighting upgrades to other county buildings such as the sheriff’s evidence building, the veterans office and parts of the extension office. The board approved the item as part of the consent agenda after a brief presentation.

A county staff member described operational advantages of LED fixtures: fewer out-of-stock bulbs, no ballasts to replace, and fixtures that last longer and can be replaced as one unit rather than periodically repairing older fluorescent can-lights. The staff presentation noted that compact fluorescent bulbs had become more expensive and that the new LED fixtures were expected to run until failure, at which point fixture replacement would be simpler.

Supervisors praised the county’s grant work and noted the administrative benefit of using outside grant funds rather than county tax dollars. The motion to approve the Plymouth Electric lighting bid passed by voice vote, 7 in favor.

Board members asked staff to coordinate procurement and to pursue extending the grant-funded umbrella to additional county buildings if the vendor will honor pricing for follow-on work.