A Brighter Du Quoin

Du Quoin electrical contractor David McIntire told the Du Quoin City Council Monday night that the city's forward-thinking LED lighting upgrade program is approximately 75 percent completed. One example is new lighting in the truck bays of the Du Quoin Fire Department. Residents will notice the improvement in places like the Du Quoin Fire Department, under the canopy at city hall and the library (pictured below), lighting beneath the overpass and in a converted street light fixture on West Main Street. Others will be changed out shortly. McIntire said there are other places beyond the original lighting plan that he would like to upgrade. One place involves lighting around the Veterans Plaza in Keyes City Park. The program is valued at $76,492 for lights and supplies, $19,695 in labor through McIntire Electric and $5,000 in manlift rentals. An Illinois Clean Energy grant and a Department of Economic Opportunity grant totaling $81,470 will pay for most of the conversion. McIntire has paid for all of the new lighting up front and on Monday the council approved payment to McIntire. The city will then send in the bills for reimbursement through the grant.