Streetlights were a major talking point during the Thorsby Town Council meeting on Feb. 19.

The council heard from Clark Hankins with Alabama Power’s street light division, who gave an estimate of how much it would cost to convert the town’s streetlights to LED.

According to Hankins, Alabama Power would replace the lights and continue to provide maintenance as it does currently.

There are roughly 261 light fixtures lining the streets of Thorsby that Alabama Power has looked into replacing.

The proposal is a three-year contract. Hankins’ estimation has the town saving $22.44 a month once the conversion takes place.

The savings would come from using a lesser wattage LED, which hold the same quality compared to the higher wattage current lights.

“It’s a really good opportunity if you’ve been looking into the idea,” Hankins said.

If agreed upon, no additional streetlights would be added at this time, only the replacement of existing fixtures.

Three LED streetlights were recently converted by Alabama Power on Dakota Road near Susan Bentley Field.

“You can physically see the difference,” Thorsby Mayor Robert Hight said.

The council decided to consider the proposal and make a decision at a future meeting.

In other news from the meeting:

• Jeannie Smith with the American Cancer Society asked the council to consider being a sponsor for Chilton County Relay for Life’s 2018 luminaria. The council did not make a decision during the meeting.
• The fire department sent a grant proposal focused on getting new fire suits.
• Due to the recent calls received for house fires, Fire Chief Lee Gunn brought up the importance of smoke alarms. “Every house should have a minimum of two smoke detectors,” Gunn said.
• Wesley Farmer was approved as a member of the fire department. He had gone through the entry level process with Thorsby.
• A new air conditioner unit has been installed in Helen Jenkins Chapel.
• The minutes were approved from the Feb. 5 council meeting.
• It was approved to pay the bills and transfer the funds.