Madison Heights approves $936,535 contract to replace park field lights; $525,000 federal grant contributes

Madison Heights council approved a $936,535 contract for a citywide ball‑field lighting renovation project after staff said aging poles and failing fixtures make replacement necessary.

City staff told council the fiscal‑year 2026 budget contains funds for replacement at Huffman, Rosie's and Silverleaf Parks and that staff received five proposals following an RFP. Staff recommended awarding the contract to Quality Sports Lighting of Hillsdale, Michigan, in part because the company's equipment met Buy America requirements for the $525,000 federal community project funding that supports the project.

Parks/DPW staff explained that multiple poles had failed or been removed in recent years and the current interim system increased safety risks and reduced playable hours. Sean Valentine, staff lead on the project, told council the timeline after approval is roughly 90–180 days depending on material availability and that the new system carries a 25‑year warranty. ‘‘As soon as we get the go ahead… the purchase order goes out tomorrow and they begin working with us,’’ Valentine said.

The motion to award the contract and to authorize the city manager to approve change orders under the purchasing threshold of $15,000 carried on a voice vote. Councilors thanked Representative Haley Stevens for advocacy that helped secure federal funding for the project.

Staff authorized the manager to approve limited change orders (under $15,000) in lieu of a larger contingency; full funding and procurement documents were recorded in the meeting packet. Council discussed the urgency of the work for youth programs and public‑safety reasons.

The approved contract will allow the city to relight recreational fields and restore evening programming; staff said work will proceed subject to vendor scheduling and material lead times.