Commission weighs $749,984 courthouse lighting plan; security need and grant options debated

Building and Grounds Director Booker Boyer and contractor Kylie Hall presented a proposal to add exterior accent and security lighting to the historic Lincoln County courthouse. The detailed, track-style LED plan — bid at a not-to-exceed $749,984.37 — would install two tiers of lighting hidden in a channel under the building lip to provide sidewalk illumination and architectural accenting.

Boyer said the original impetus for the effort was security: employees leaving the building after dark have reported uncomfortable encounters and poor sidewalk visibility. Hall explained the system would be protected from direct water exposure and could be controlled via a tablet or phone; the materials and RGB-capable fixtures accounted for the bulk of the cost. Hall noted manufacturers and supply houses provided higher quotes for comparable fixtures and said the contractor offers a five-year warranty on the components.

Commissioners expressed “sticker shock” at the price and debated whether the county should stage the work by completing the south-side/lower-level security lighting first and defer the upper-level architectural lighting. Concerns included potential damage to historic stone if fasteners are used, the cost of boom-lift rentals for upper-tier work, and the possibility that inflation would raise future costs if the board phases the project.

Several commissioners asked staff to pursue grant opportunities (historic preservation or community-improvement funds) before taking action. For now the board did not vote to approve the full project; members signaled support for researching outside funding and for considering a limited, security-focused phase as an interim step.

What’s next: staff and the contractor will look into grant programs and the feasibility and price differential of a phased approach; the board requested a one-week check-in on funding options and timeline implications.