Yazoo City's Public Service Commission (PSC) officials are considering the use of solar-powered street lights on the Willie Morris Parkway. The use of the solar-powered lights will eliminate the need for borings and trenching that would be needed to install electric lines.
In the PSC Board of Commissioners June 16 meeting, PSC Engineer Wayne Morrison reported that the lights probably will be erected in the fall.
If used in the street lights, PSC Manager Jimmy Wever said the LED lighting would use only 50 percent of the electricity that the current street lights around town use.
“(The use of solar-power and LED lighting) would help on the maintenance costs,” Wever said. “There are no wires there now, and we would have to bore and lay conduit and run electric wires. Rather than do that, if it's within our budget, we could just set the poles with the solar panels on the top and power the lights through those panels without being connected to the electric system.”
“Solar is the way to go,” said Board Chairman Dr. William Nelson. “It's going to cost more up front, but in the long run there's a big savings.”
Asked if the solar panels would be able to power the lighting through the night, Wever explained that the power from the solar panels will be stored in batteries, which could power the lights for “several nights.”
“They've come a long way on those batteries,” he said.
Wever asked for another month so he could continue considering the solar panels.
In other PSC business, the commissioners:
• Approved the purchase of a 0.75-acre tract and easement behind Gateway Tire and Service Center on Haley Barbour Parkway for $26,600. The land will be used to construct a well and a 350,000 gallon water tank.
• Heard Morrison report that the work on the Willie Morris Parkway will be completed in about one month. He said about 50 percent of the dirt work for the new Walmart had been done.
• Approved a surplus of $5,000 which will be sent to the City of Yazoo City for Fourth of July activities.
• Approved a contract with Ardis Russell, who will perform the FY 2016 audit.
• Approved a bad debt write-off of $8,810.
• Authorized Wever to contact the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for help concerning alligators that are coming onto the wastewater treatment plant property located on Mississippi 3. Nelson expressed concern for the safety of PSC employees as they go about their duties at the plant. It was noted that should an individual be injured or killed by one of the alligators, PSC could be liable.
