July 25, 2008 – The last time exit lights were installed in the residential towers at Marina City, Jimmy Carter was president and Apple computers had just been introduced.

That will change with a $33,750 overhaul, which could start in the coming week.

At Thursday’s meeting of Marina Towers Condominium Association, the board of directors heard that T-1 Lighting, a division of BJI Energy Solutions of New York, submitted the best bid of $135 per fixture. The expense will be paid from reserve funds currently estimated at $1,676,409 and growing at a rate of about $55,000 per month.

According to residential property manager David Gantt, bulbs in the new fixtures will last about ten years and consume slightly less electricity. (Left) Photo of a T-1 exit sign from the company’s web site.

“The battery backups are going bad,” says Gantt. “There are switches on the inside that switch from AC current to the battery backup and those are beginning to go bad. You got the faces on the exit signs that are beginning to decay and they’re going to be written up as a violation by the City of Chicago if there was a complete inspection.”

The current lights were installed as part of the condominium conversion at Marina City in 1977.

The board of directors met for 15 minutes before moving to closed session. MTCA president Donna Leonard noted the passing of board member Sandra Lapping. She said Lapping died in the late afternoon on July 3 and was buried on July 14. Leonard then asked for “30 seconds or a minute of silence” but the tribute lasted only 15 seconds.

Once again, there was no question-and-answer period. Leonard has not allowed questions or comments from unit owners at board meetings since November 2007.

 Listen to the entire meeting