Sutton still lighting the way for Bird Rock residents

The installation of nine LED street lamps paid for with $229,000 of maintenance assessment district (MAD) funds by the Bird Rock Community Council (BRCC) began early Monday afternoon, May 14.

The street light project was conceived of and spearheaded by late BRCC member George Sutton, who died last summer in a tragic accident while preparing for a family vacation.

The installation of nine LED street lamps in Bird Rock began Monday, May 14. The Bird Rock Community Council purchased the lamps with $229,000 in maintenance assessment district (MAD) funds. Pat Sherman photos

“This is an emotional project for the Bird Rock Community Council and the community,” BRCC President Joe Parker said. “George was a very active volunteer, not only in La Jolla at large, but in Bird Rock, having served on the BRCC as well as being actively involved as a member or advocate on behalf of the BRCC on the various committees.”

Though the lights will begin to illuminate Bird Rock as soon as the work is finished, a celebration to honor Sutton and his street lamps is expected to take place the first or second week of June.

“We want to honor George and honor his commitment and thank his family for everything he’s done for Bird Rock,” Parker said. “I think this is a fitting opportunity for that, because this project meant so much to George.”

BRCC treasurer and MAD representative Barbara Dunbar said the lamps were installed to beautify and brighten the neighborhood, and to make the community safer and more pedestrian friendly at night.

The installation of 100 energy-efficient light emitting diode (LED) streetlights is under way in Jackson. In the first phase of the project, the new LED lights will be installed along Nature Boulevard and the nearby 60Acre housing development.

The entire project is expected to replace more than 500 lights throughout Jackson. A $464,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will help fund the project, which is being undertaken by Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L).

Mayor Mike Reina said the LED fixtures are a perfect fit for Jackson’s environmental view, with each fixture being 70 percent more efficient than current streetlights.

The LED lights “will save taxpayers a considerable sum of money and reduce energy consumption, ultimately protecting our environment,” Reina said. “This is the beginning of the township’s quest to save on energy costs and our commitment to going green.”

Initial plans called for the replacement of all 5,000 streetlight fixtures throughout town. However, according to Dan Burke, township engineer, the cost of having police direct traffic during the replacement of all of those light fixtures would negatively impact the number of lights officials could afford to replace.