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Joliet trustees approve roughly $49,760 upgrade to football field lighting after repeated failures
Summary
After two seasons of mid‑game failures and safety concerns, the board approved a High Altitude bid to upgrade the stadium lighting (diagnostic + LED retrofit) at an estimated total of $49,760; trustees cited safety and long‑term reliability in a 5–0 vote.
The Joliet School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to accept a High Altitude bid to upgrade the district football field lighting after repeated failures during games over the past two seasons.
Facilities lead Mr. Counter briefed trustees on troubleshooting and vendor proposals, saying the Ace bid came in at about $73,200 while High Altitude’s phased approach produced a lower total: "the quote is going to come in at $48,000 plus the $1,760 for the diagnostic test," he told the board. Diagnostics completed by the committee indicated the in‑ground wiring was likely serviceable, making the High Altitude package more cost‑effective.
Board members discussed electrical issues uncovered during inspection, including a degraded C‑clamp that had been acting as a neutral. Trustees cited both safety risks for daytime/nighttime events and the cost‑benefit of reducing electrical draw with LED fixtures. One trustee said the work also functions as an "insurance policy" against potential safety or liability problems if dark zones persist on the field.
After discussion about grant possibilities and long‑term maintenance, Jenny moved and Craig seconded a motion to approve the High Altitude bid for the lighting upgrade. The motion passed 5–0.
The board directed facilities staff to coordinate the diagnostic follow‑up, finalize contract details with High Altitude and pursue potential community grant support where available. The district will allocate funds from its building and permissive levies and project accounts as discussed in the meeting materials.
The lighting action was the largest capital expenditure discussed at the meeting and was presented as a safety‑driven priority; trustees said they expect work to proceed as schedule and funding allow.
