Greenlee County board approves Qualite contract up to $250,000 to light one fairgrounds field
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Summary
After rejecting over-budget sealed bids, the Greenlee County Board of Supervisors directed staff to use the TIPS purchasing cooperative to contract with Qualite to install permanent lighting on a single ball field, with a not-to-exceed limit of $250,000, and required vendor updates before March.
The Greenlee County Board of Supervisors voted to proceed with Qualite under the TIPS purchasing cooperative to light one ball field at the county fairgrounds, setting a not‑to‑exceed limit of $250,000.
Staff presented four options after sealed competitive bids came in above the current fiscal-year budget: (1) reduce the initial scope to light a single permanent field; (2) repurpose existing wooden poles as a temporary one‑season solution; (3) rent light plants for short-term use (estimated $20,000–$30,000); or (4) restart and rebid the full complex, a longer and costlier approach. Staff recommended option 1 (single-field permanent lighting) or option 2 (temporary poles) to meet timing and budget constraints.
Staff said Qualite offered a purchasing-contract option to light one field for about $218,000 and provided vendor references indicating prior work in county facilities. Other procurement-contract vendors discussed included Point Company (on Sourcewell) and Techline; vendor timelines varied—Techline indicated a possible completion by Feb. 20, and Qualite indicated poles could be on-site by Feb. 18 with single-field work finishing around March 2–3. Staff also described cooperative purchasing options (Sourcewell, TIPS USA) that pre‑vet vendors and prices.
After discussion about deadlines for Little League (opening March 3) and contingency plans, a supervisor moved to proceed with Qualite under the TIPS cooperative with an upper limit of $250,000; the motion passed by voice vote. The board asked staff to sign up for the TIPS cooperative immediately and to obtain weekly vendor updates (daily once on-site) and to allow an electrical-engineering review as a separate assurance step.
Staff and several supervisors emphasized the need for logistical planning (septic/leach-line locations, building siting and future expansion) to avoid conflicts once poles are installed. The board also authorized staff latitude to manage unexpected costs but said any amount above the $250,000 cap would be returned to the board for approval.
The board’s action followed an earlier, separate vote to reject all sealed bids for the full lighting project because they exceeded the available budget for the current fiscal year.
Next steps: staff will register with the TIPS cooperative and proceed under the board’s direction, provide weekly status updates leading up to the March timeline, and return to the board if the project exceeds the approved $250,000 cap.
