Susanville staff: emergency cleanup at Memorial Ballpark complete; remaining electrical and lighting repairs to follow normal procurement

City Manager Dan Newton told the Susanville City Council on June 3 that the emergency scope of work addressing damage at Memorial Ballpark has been completed and that remaining repairs will proceed under the city’s standard procurement process.

Newton said a contractor previously hired to clear burned structure and debris had been separated from the project and that staff is now working with a local electrician to assess outstanding electrical work. "The insurance company is scrutinizing the scope that the previous contractor said had been completed versus what build needs to be done," Newton said, describing differences between claimed and actual completed work.

Newton said the field is operational for daytime use but that larger items — including big ball-field light extensions to support night games and final grandstand work — remain. He estimated the remaining work could take two to three months to complete given insurance review and procurement timelines and said those elements do not qualify as emergency work sufficient to bypass regular contracting.

Council discussed whether a formal action was required; Newton recommended receiving the report. A council member moved to receive the update, the motion was seconded and the council voted unanimously to receive the report.

Newton also said staff will follow up with the investigating entity (identified in the record as the state fire marshal/Cal Fire) to request an estimated time of completion for the fire investigator’s report and will place a department update on a future agenda if the council requests it.