Crete board approves Mammoth Sports Construction Phase 1 contract for press box, bleachers and lights

The Crete Public Schools Board of Education on Monday approved a Phase 1 construction contract with Mammoth Sports Construction to order and install a prefabricated press box, a 1,600-seat elevated bleacher system, a main concourse concrete slab, site sidewalks and Musco field lighting.

Board members approved the $1.6 million contract so Mammoth can place long‑lead orders, the district presenter said. The board’s motion to approve the contract was made by Board Member Greg Holman and seconded by Board Member Vince; a roll call later recorded all present voting “yes” and the motion carried.

The contract covers supply, installation and construction of the listed components. The presenter told the board that lead times for bleachers are five to six months, creating urgency to order. The scoreboard was not part of the approved contract; the presenter said the district is still working to raise roughly $379,000 for a ScoreVision scoreboard and recommended holding off on that purchase while drainage and other site issues are resolved.

Why it matters: approving the Phase 1 contract allows long‑lead items to be ordered so work can begin while the district finalizes additional site work and budget decisions. District staff and Mammoth representatives told the board that the work will make the facility usable for junior varsity, reserve and middle‑school contests but may not be ready for varsity competition until additional phases (turf, full parking, other amenities) are completed.

Board and contractor discussion focused on outstanding site issues. District staff and Mammoth representatives reported they are awaiting a drainage study for runoff from the adjacent hillside; options under consideration include modifying detention basins, adding a basin on the west side of the road to provide clay for the hillside, or creating riprap/check‑dam features to slow water flow. The presenter said the city raised concerns about traffic and neighborhood light spill; Mammoth (and Musco for lighting) will provide light‑distribution renderings and hooding to minimize off‑field illumination.

Cost questions: the presenter described why the project cost differs from earlier estimates. The scoreboard and electrical work tied to lighting account for much of the variance: Musco’s original lighting bid cited about $300,000 for fixtures without electrical work, while the district’s current line item includes electrical installation. The presenter said a functional scoreboard could be procured for about $100,000, but the district is advocating a ScoreVision unit similar to what local schools use and will continue fundraising efforts.

Project scope and timeline: the approved contract funds the press box, bleachers, slab and sidewalks; additional work — retaining wall behind the bleachers, drainage fixes and the gravel parking lot — remain to be scoped and priced. The presenter said Mammoth is pursuing local vendors for dirt work to keep costs near earlier master‑plan estimates. If the drainage study reveals higher costs, staff said the district would return to the board for further direction.

The board was told approving Phase 1 now should yield a usable facility for lower‑level competition next year, although field maintenance and traffic management will require ongoing attention. Mammoth representatives and district staff were present to answer questions before the motion was offered and approved.