Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Theater Upgrades topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
McMinnville parks committee approves new theater lighting, cites $88,000 state grant for sound upgrades
Summary
Parks and Recreation committee approved purchases to replace an aging lighting console and several stage fixtures after staff described compatibility and reliability issues; the city also reported a combined $88,000 award from the Tennessee Arts Commission to upgrade the theater sound system.
The Parks and Recreation Committee approved purchases to replace the Park Theater’s aging lighting console and several stage fixtures after staff said the current equipment is outdated and limiting new fixtures.
Joe Harvey, Parks and Recreation staff, told the committee the existing lighting console runs an unsupported Windows 7 operating system and cannot accept most new fixtures without custom modifications. “It’s time for it to be changed out,” Harvey said, describing the proposed console as “a very good upgrade” that would expand the theater’s capacity to control more than two DMX universes.
Harvey said the committee received two quotes from Barbizon Lighting and recommended the less-expensive option. He told the committee the proposed console exceeds the original budget by “roughly a thousand dollars” and that the overage would be covered from the department’s repairs and technology budgets. The committee moved and seconded the purchase; the motion passed with members voting in favor.
Harvey also recommended replacing multiple older LED stage fixtures, saying several diodes have failed and the lights have lost color functionality. He described the replacement fixtures as moving-head units that will increase functionality and reduce the need for staff to climb the rig. Harvey said quotes for the fixtures rose considerably since earlier estimates and that the preferred vendor, Sound Productions LLC, left the purchase roughly $1,800 over the earlier quote; he said his department would absorb the difference from the repair budget. The committee approved that purchase after a motion, second and an affirmative vote.
Separately, Harvey announced the city received additional arts funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission. He said the theater had originally been awarded $40,000 and later was offered an additional $48,000, bringing the total award to $88,000. Harvey said the council intends to put the grant money toward a ground-up upgrade of the theater’s sound system.
The committee’s approvals were described as capital improvement projects that had been discussed in earlier budget talks. Harvey closed by encouraging the public to attend an upcoming show where the new lighting will be used.
The purchases now move to whatever procurement steps the city requires for final ordering and payment.
