Saranac Lake board approves press box, bleachers and Musco field-lighting contract

SANARAC LAKE, N.Y. — On Dec. 8, 2024 the Saranac Lake Central School District Board of Education approved a letter of intent for a new press box and bleachers and signed a purchase agreement for athletic field lighting, board members said.

The board approved resolution 0702024, authorizing a letter of intent with a specialty stands vendor for press box and bleacher work in the amount of $605,039, and resolution 0712024, approving a purchase agreement with Musco Sports Lighting LLC for $582,855 for new field lighting. Both measures were moved, seconded and passed on voice votes; no opposing votes were recorded in the transcript (vote tallies were not specified). Sanford, who identifies himself as the meeting chair, read the item approving the letter of intent and led the votes.

Board members and staff discussed installation and operational details before the votes. A committee member asked how access to the top of the press box would be controlled; board members and staff replied that the likely approach is interior access (a ladder with a Bilco-style hatch) and that athletics staff would develop procedures to control who may enter the press box and field. “You typically have a ladder with, like, a Bilco door,” a staff member said during the discussion.

On lighting, district staff explained elements of the Musco proposal: precast concrete bases for poles, variable base sizes depending on soil conditions, automatic controls so lights do not run all night, and a 25-year warranty. A district representative described the fixtures as “Dark Sky compliant” and noted that the project will require Adirondack Park Agency (APA) and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) permits. “They’ll turn off by themselves so we can set them so they won’t run all night,” a staff member said.

Officials also flagged several follow-ups: verifying base sizes and soil conditions with contractors, confirming turf infill/rubber questions, and ensuring procurement documents are corrected for typographical errors in vendor names before execution. Board members thanked staff (the transcript names Diane) for work to get documents submitted in time to secure queue placement; staff said the site-work bid package is out and that bids are expected in early January (one speaker estimated January 9).

Earlier in the meeting, the board approved resolution 0692024 to accept the current budgetary transfer report; staff described the transfers as routine and primarily related to athletics. Members also noted the recent resignation of a board member named Matt and said they are pursuing a replacement.

What happens next: staff will follow up on permit applications, final vendor paperwork, soil/base clarifications and turf questions. Site-work bids are expected in early January and the district intends to proceed with scheduling once permits and contractor details are finalized.