Board approves Musco lighting package for fair arena pending egress verification; commissioners advance Wagon Museum funding request

Wallowa County commissioners approved a Musco-provided arena lighting package for the Fairgrounds and authorized pursuit of state-member-request funding for a Wagon Museum and administrative offices. The board tied the lighting award to a written code- compliance confirmation and tabled a separate grandstand renovation funding request until a commissioner speaks with legislators.

Lede: At the Feb. 18 meeting the board approved a Musco lighting bid (via the state procurement arrangement) contingent on written confirmation from Community Development/SafeBuild that the photometric design meets egress-lighting requirements, and it authorized staff to submit a 2025 member-request for funds to support a Wagon Museum and county administrative offices at the fairgrounds.

Nut graf: Fair director Greg presented three package elements: a base arena-lighting bid; Option 1, battery-backed emergency/egress fixtures to satisfy code; and Option 2, an optional show/LED color package (about $24,000) for event lighting. Commissioners discussed safety, cost and funding sources and approved the base bid plus options pending the requested written confirmation.

Key details - Musco package: Staff presented a design and photometric analysis supplied by Musco. A county lighting technical speaker summarized that the Musco design’s photometrics showed values that meet or exceed the one-foot-candle standard referenced in code for egress paths; battery-backed fixtures are specified so selected fixtures remain illuminated on local power loss (no separate generator required for emergency egress fixtures in this design). Musco’s package carries a 25-year warranty for parts and labor, per staff.

- Project phases and options: The quoted package included a base scope for arena lights, an emergency/egress battery-backed option that staff said was necessary to meet egress requirements, and a show/LED option costing roughly $24,000 for colored/entertainment lighting. Staff described the total project scale as being in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (staff used an illustrative $400,000 figure during discussion); the board emphasized funding to come from Fair District resources, a possible $75,000 request to the Fair Foundation, multi-year 301 building funds and, if needed, county capital contributions.

- Procurement timing and condition: Musco’s procurement route (state bid) shortens bidding complexity but creates a minimum procurement timeline (staff cited a 60-day minimum after release). Commissioners approved the award contingent on receiving written confirmation from Community Development/SafeBuild that the proposed design resolves the previously-identified egress-lighting noncompliance and that the photometric plan meets code. Staff was authorized to finalize contracts and, per staff request in the agenda packet, the chair or vice chair was authorized to sign related contracts to avoid delays once confirmations are in hand.

Quotes - “It clearly states on those drawings that it meets the 1 foot candle in all of those locations,” said Charlie (lighting technician), summarizing the Musco photometrics shown to staff and the board.

Funding and implementation notes - Staff described a funding approach that could combine Fair budget dollars spread over multiple years, a $75,000 request to the Fair Foundation, existing 301 building funds, and limited county capital funds if necessary. Staff also said doing the full scope at once is more cost-effective than piecemeal upgrades but added that partial projects are possible if funding falls short.

Ending: Commissioners approved the contingent Musco award and asked staff to provide written confirmation of egress compliance by week’s end so the county could finalize contract documents and move procurement forward in time for summer events.