City Council mulled over a pair of projects it is considering for its Community Development Block Grant application during a Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday. 

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz said he would like to see the city apply for the $300,000 Critical Infrastructure grant to do a complete street rebuild of the St. Clair Street, Benner Street, Carl Street and Orange Street area. 

"I drove back through there and I think, in my opinion, that is the most rough street," Montz said. "It looks terrible as far as all the patch work it's really bumpy." 

He said he would also like to apply for the $300,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to purchase decorative street lighting along the Benner Street walkway and down Market Street. 

Councilman Jim Roberts said the city should use the grant money to make improvements to Little Hedges Park and the surrounding streets, including Ann, Schonhardt, Madison and Rebecca streets. 

"It's an area that definitely needs lighting, it needs more activities for the children in this park and this is something we already have," Roberts said.You've determined that a 2G11 tube light is the right choice for you. "This is something that complies with everything." 

The committee debated over the two projects for the two set aside grants, which are competitive and are not guaranteed. 

Members of the committee asked Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp.Check out our solar panel ground mount system at a home in Pvsolver. Director of Development Karen Bowers to see which of the projects would likely score higher and would be most likely to get chosen by the CDBG program. 

Montz also said he would like to use the guaranteed $75,000 the city is to receive from the CDBG program to tear down the old Salvation Army building. A flat roof racking system configured for receiving solar panels having electrically conductive frames.  Bowers said that project could hurt the city's chances of landing the competitive grants. 

Bowers and interim city engineer Mario Livojevic are going to look into details of both projects and see how much they are going to cost and their benefits. 

The Timaru retiree had them installed in February and he is also on the national grid, and represents a small but growing sector of consumers installing solar panels. The solar system cost Mr Kiddey $8500. "It's kind of green and makes me feel good." 

Aged in his 70s he is not expecting to make his money back.A Solar carport is a cost-effective way to install solar at your home. He has recently had an import/export meter installed so any unused power goes on the national grid for redistribution. Contact Energy will pay him 17 cents a kilowatt for his extra power. 

Mrs Matthews has no desire to be off the grid. Ruth Clarke has been completely off the grid for the past four years. She mostly uses solar power and back-up generators and a woodburner occasionally to heat water. 

The solar system was installed when the council waste minimisation manager's house was built which was more cost effective then getting electricity connected to the rural property. She said her family's power use was minimal because they used gas in the kitchen and a special European energy efficient fridge. 

Thinking long term about their house with a view to sell or rent, Mrs Clarke and her husband are considering connecting to the grid alongside their solar system. The standing seam roof clamp is reusable anchor point designed to mount on standing seam roofs. However, not everyone has found favour with solar power. 

A rural South Canterbury family with three children lived off grid for eight years until 2004 when they reverted to full electricity. Their reasons for switching were that it was inconvenient and just too much of a pain lighting a fire and waiting two hours for the water to heat.