Council gives staff go‑ahead to pursue Musco lighting and November target for Shafer Park upgrade

Selma — The city moved toward replacing and modernizing sports field lighting at Shafer Park on Tuesday, directing the public works director to pursue a Musco lighting purchase and to return schedule and contract details to the council.

Public Works reported that an alternate vendor, Bradford, had promised a bid but went silent; staff said they received stronger, established responses from Musco and other local references that use Musco systems. The director explained that buying through the Sourcewell cooperative brings an available credit and that Musco supplies precast bases and a contractor capable of a single mobilization, which staff said would best meet the council’s schedule goal.

Council members repeatedly stressed the November 1 target because local youth and winter leagues need the facility; Musco representatives told staff their manufacture and delivery lead times are measured in weeks and months and that bases and final assembly require four to eight weeks once populated into the vendor’s manufacturing schedule. Staff said Musco’s cooperative pricing had returned an $80,000‑range credit compared with the earlier takeoff price and that the city would supply installation labor and a local electrical contractor for wiring to Musco specifications.

Council reached informal consensus to have staff contact Musco immediately, secure a firm delivery and installation timeline, and return to council with a signed contract authorization and funding source. Staff said they would cc council on correspondence with Musco and would confirm whether the Nov. 1 installation target is achievable given manufacturing lead times. The council did not vote on a funding appropriation during the meeting but indicated willingness to use general‑fund balances or other available sources if needed to meet the timeline.