West Haymarket JPA approves a series of Pinnacle Bank Arena procurement contracts

The West Haymarket Joint Public Agency on April 3, 2025, in Lincoln council chambers approved a package of contracts and purchase orders to buy equipment and services for Pinnacle Bank Arena, including exterior lighting, new speakers, an automatic gate and several maintenance contracts.

The approvals came during the JPA’s regular meeting after staff presentations describing the items and brief public comment. The JPA voted on bills WH25-1 through WH25-9 and WH25-11 (agenda bill numbers as recorded). All measures carried on roll call votes with the two members present voting yes.

The most expensive single purchase approved was for product-only LED exterior lighting for the arena roof and towers. The JPA authorized issuing a purchase order to Lincoln Wind Electric Company for exterior fixtures, with an agenda amount of $315,477.78; the agenda language specified this action covers the purchase of product only and not installation, which will be addressed later.

Other procurements approved include: a contract with CL Construction for a loading-dock roof extension at the Pinnacle Bank Arena (agenda amount stated as $37,956); control-room consoles from Winstead Company (not to exceed $21,395); an automatic gate from American Fence of Lincoln (agenda amount stated as $1,955.21); new center-hung scoreboard speakers from Veil (agenda amount stated as $18,807); a cleaning auto-scrubber from Aviate Enterprises (agenda amount stated as $89,123.25); a unit-price contract with Wired Inc. for retrofit lighting installation (agenda amount stated as $30,195); annual service/replacement follow-spot work with Harvest AV Solutions (agenda amount stated as $101,685); and scoreboard hoist/cabling work with Nebraska Hoist and Crane (agenda amount stated as $47,926.84).

City Law Department staff member Chris Connelly described several items during presentations, saying the loading-dock canopy would prevent rain, snow and ice from collecting in a two-foot gap that prevents trucks from fully sheltering when backed to the dock. Connelly said the automatic gate will allow security staff to operate access remotely so an officer need not leave the security office while monitoring camera feeds. Connelly also said the exterior lighting purchase replaces incandescent fixtures with new LED fixtures and that installation costs would be addressed in a later agenda item.

During public comment, Jane Kinsey of Watchdogs asked why some agenda entries explicitly stated whether a contract was the “lowest responsive responsible bidder” while others did not. Chris Connelly and staff responded that all items had been processed through the city purchasing department and that the agenda language varies; they said the purchasing process is required even when the agenda text does not state “lowest responsive responsible bidder.”

Before voting on the unit-price installation contract with Wired Inc., a board member requested the record reflect that their office had performed work for Wired Inc.; staff said they reviewed the matter and determined there was not a disqualifying conflict for that board member in this procurement.

Votes at a glance

- WH25-1 — CL Construction, loading-dock roof extension for Pinnacle Bank Arena; amount stated on agenda: $37,956; vote: 2–0, approved. - WH25-2 — Winstead Company, control-room consoles; amount stated: $21,395; vote: 2–0, approved. - WH25-3 — American Fence of Lincoln, automatic fence/gate; amount stated: $1,955.21; vote: 2–0, approved. - WH25-4 — Lincoln Wind Electric Company, exterior LED fixtures (product only); amount stated: $315,477.78; vote: 2–0, approved. - WH25-5 — Veil, new scoreboard speakers; amount stated: $18,807; vote: 2–0, approved. - WH25-6 — Aviate Enterprises, cleaning auto-scrubber; amount stated: $89,123.25; vote: 2–0, approved. - WH25-7 — Wired Inc., unit-price contract for retrofit lighting installation; amount stated: $30,195; vote: 2–0, approved. - WH25-8 — Harvest AV Solutions, annual service/follow-spot replacement; amount stated: $101,685; vote: 2–0, approved. - WH25-9 — Nebraska Hoist and Crane, scoreboard hoist/cabling replacement; amount stated: $47,926.84; vote: 2–0, approved.

Why this matters

The procurements cover a mix of capital products (lighting, scoreboard speakers), building modifications (loading-dock canopy), security upgrades (automatic gate, control-room consoles) and operations/maintenance contracts (cleaning equipment, follow-spot service, hoist cabling). The exterior lighting purchase alone—product only—was the largest single line item on the agenda and will require a separate action to contract for installation.

What’s next

Staff said installation and related work for the lighting will appear in a future agenda; the JPA’s next scheduled meeting was announced as April 29, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. in council chambers.

Ending

All procurement motions carried by the two members present; public comment on procurement language focused on consistency of agenda disclosures and confirmation that the city purchasing process was followed.