PINEDALE – The Pinedale Town Council approved a finalized contract with PacifiCorp, “doing business as Rocky Mountain Power,” to replace 206 streetlights across town with LED bulbs and fixtures on Monday, Sept. 26.

The town approved an initial bid from Rocky Mountain Power-PacifiCorp to replace streetlights at its Sept. 12 meeting. The motion made on Sept. 26 includes a completed contract with Rocky Mountain Power-PacifiCorp and commits the town to fund the project for up to $55,000.

The actual cost will likely come in lower than $55,000, said Abram Pearce, director of public works. The latest estimate stood at around $45,000, he added.

The town will receive approximately $8,700 in incentives from the Wattsmart Program, Pearce told the Roundup, leaving the town responsible for the remaining $36,000 and change.

Rocky Mountain Power distributes Wattsmart incentive money out of funds set aside from customer bills to encourage energy efficient projects, said Sheldon Cowlthorpe, director of Wyoming’s Wattsmart Program.

Converting streetlights to LED technology will result in considerable energy savings, estimated at 108,783 kilowatt-hours per year, Pearce explained, leading to lower electric bills for the town eight or nine years down the road. LED lighting also reduces light pollution, Pearce added.

The project is tentatively scheduled for November to provide time for Rocky Mountain Power-PacifiCorp to gather supplies and assemble a team, Pearce said. Once the crew arrives, they can replace 50 light fixtures per day, he added, with completion of the entire project anticipated within five days.

Mayor Matt Murdock discussed plans to solicit companies to bid on a project to install an electrical-vehicle charging station at the parking lot on North Maybell Avenue between Pine and Magnolia streets. The station would be operated as a private venture for profit, he added. The proposed station could charge Tesla vehicles and other models, Murdock told the council.

Electrical car use is rising and Pinedale is a “destination” for many of these tourists, Murdock said.

Additional charging stations in Pinedale could accommodate more tourists traveling in electric vehicles between Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and cities like Denver, said councilman Scott Kosiba. He encouraged the town to “get in front” of the trend. Tourists stopping in Pinedale to charge their cars were more likely to spend money in the community, Kosiba added.

Murdock said he planned to put the proposal out to bid and come back to the town with recommendations for councilmembers to vote on.

Additional town news

The council unanimously passed a motion adopting a proclamation presented by the Sublette County Sexual Assault and Family Violence Task Force (SAFV) designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The purple ribbons around town are meant to raise awareness about domestic violence, said Dezi Saathoff, SAFV violence prevention coordinator.

The South Tyler Pathway Project reached final completion in September, Pearce reported to the board, with the town and its contractor wrapping up the last payments.

The Pinedale Airport runway and east apron expansion project was nearing completion, Pearce said. The grooving of the runway went “smoothly” in September, Pearce told the board. The only item remaining on the list is painting the runway, he added, a task the town plans to begin in the coming weeks.

The town continues to work on its Transportation, Pedestrian Safety and Wastewater master plans. Town staff plans to present drafts of the documents at its regular public meetings before the town council in October, Pearce said.