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Council approves emergency Bowman Field lighting contract; city outlines mixed funding plan
Summary
After inspectors found rusted and failing poles, council approved a Musco Sports Lighting contract to replace Bowman Field lights and discussed a mix of a pending $500,000 state allocation, a $750,000 tourism grant (with $293,000 remaining), DCED program income and possible MLB/Little League contributions; temporary lights for early games could cost about $120,000.
City staff told council that bolts and rusted fittings at Bowman Field rendered several light poles unsafe, prompting immediate removal and an expedited replacement plan. "They further upon investigation, we looked at the other pole that ended up being rusted as well... So this is where we're at with this," Livermore said, explaining the urgency.
Staff presented Musco Sports Lighting as the vendor willing to move quickly and outlined two payment schedules. The transcript records a contract amount that appears garbled in the record; staff later discussed the overall project as a roughly $1.7 million effort with $893,000 identified so far. Valued sources discussed included a pending $500,000 state allocation pursued by Representative Flick, $293,000 remaining in a previously awarded $750,000 sports marketing and tourism grant, and Department of Community and Economic Development program income as a backstop if legislative funds do not arrive.
Councilors pressed officials on timing because the Crosscutters season begins in early June and the team may need temporary lighting for initial home games. A Crosscutters representative confirmed temporary lighting bids of about $120,000 for three games and said the team is working with the mayor on options. Several council members urged outreach to Major League Baseball and Little League for potential contributions given the event and sponsorship benefits.
Council approved the resolution to proceed (motion passed 6-0). Members asked administration to continue pursuing legislative funding and to report back on timelines and guarantees for completion.
