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Messer Park Zoo moves ahead with CenterPoint lighting upgrade; zoo to pay $2,400 disposal fee
Summary
The Evansville City Council approved an agreement with CenterPoint Energy to replace about $90,000–$95,000 in lighting fixtures at Messer Park Zoo and Botanical Garden. The zoo will cover a $2,400 disposal fee and the work depends on available incentive funding, officials said.
At a meeting of the Evansville City Council, members approved an agreement to proceed with a CenterPoint Energy lighting upgrade at Messer Park Zoo and Botanical Garden.
Eric Beck, executive director for Messer Park Zoo and Botanical Garden, told the council CenterPoint’s systems group conducted an energy assessment and will replace a large number of fixtures with more energy-efficient models. "It's a pretty significant investment that they're making, over $90,000, $95,000 in fixtures that they'll switch out," Beck said. He said the zoo will pay a $2,400 fee for disposal and recycling of old equipment because some bulbs contain mercury and cannot be thrown away. "They're passing that on to us, and that's the only cost that they're passing on to us," Beck said.
Beck said CenterPoint is coordinating with local contractors and that the work will proceed while incentive funds are available. "I think this is only lasting till the bucket of money runs out, and we're trying to get in the queue and get it done," he said. Council members moved and seconded the agreement; the motion carried after a voice vote.
Council members did not specify an installation schedule at the meeting. Staff said the agreement authorizes the city and the zoo to participate in CenterPoint's program and to begin the procurement and scheduling steps necessary to carry out the retrofit. The council did not detail any additional municipal contribution beyond the $2,400 disposal cost Beck identified.
The vote to approve the agreement was recorded as a motion and carried by voice vote.
